1.1.3
The Four Rules of Operations
The Four Rules for Positive Numbers
The Four Rules for Positive Numbers
You should be able to calculate the sum, difference, product and quotient of numbers without using a calculator.


Calculating the sum
Calculating the sum
- Calculating the sum means adding two numbers together.


Calculating the sum of several numbers
Calculating the sum of several numbers
- You can also calculate the sum of more than two numbers.


Calculating the difference
Calculating the difference
- Calculating the difference means subtracting one number from another.
- E.g. 4 - 2 = 2
- You may have noticed that the sum and difference are reverse functions of each other.


Calculating the product
Calculating the product
- Calculating the product means multiplying two numbers together.
- E.g. 3 x 3 = 9
- To understand multiplication you need to have a good understanding of times tables.


Calculating the quotient
Calculating the quotient
- Calculating the quotient means dividing one number by another number.
- E.g. 9 ÷ 3 = 3
- You may have noticed that the product and quotient are reverse functions of each other.
The Four Rules for Negative Numbers
The Four Rules for Negative Numbers
You should be able to calculate: the sum, difference, product and quotient of negative numbers as well as positive numbers.


Calculating the sum
Calculating the sum
- When calculating the sum of two negative numbers, you go down the number scale away from 0.


Calculating the product
Calculating the product
- When you multiply two negative numbers together, the product is positive.
- But when you multiply one negative number by one positive number the product is always negative.


Calculating the quotient
Calculating the quotient
- When both numbers in the division calculation are negative, the quotient is positive.
- When one number in the division calculation is negative and the other is positive, the quotient is negative.


Some tips
Some tips
- Calculating the sum and difference:
- If the calculation's function (the + or −) is the same as the sign in front of the 2nd number in the equation, the answer will be positive.
- If the calculation's function (the + or −) is different to the sign in front of the 2nd number in the equation, the answer will be negative.
- Calculating the product and quotient:
- If the numbers in the equation are either both positive or both negative, the answer will be a positive number.
- If one number in the equation is positive and the other is negative, the answer will be a negative number.
1Numbers
1.1Integers
1.3Decimals
1.4Powers & Roots
1.5Set Language & Notation
1.6Percentages
1.7Ratio & Proportion
2Equations, Formulae & Identities
2.1Algebraic Manipulation
2.2Expressions & Formulae
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Quadratic Equations
2.5Proportion
3Sequences, Functions & Graphs
3.1Sequences
3.3Graphs
3.4Common Graphs
4Geometry
4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles
4.2Polygons
4.5Circle Properties
4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem
4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes
4.83D Shapes & Volume
5Vectors & Transformation Geometry
6Statistics & Probability
6.1Statistical Measures
6.2Graphical Representation of Data
Jump to other topics
1Numbers
1.1Integers
1.3Decimals
1.4Powers & Roots
1.5Set Language & Notation
1.6Percentages
1.7Ratio & Proportion
2Equations, Formulae & Identities
2.1Algebraic Manipulation
2.2Expressions & Formulae
2.3Linear Equations
2.4Quadratic Equations
2.5Proportion
3Sequences, Functions & Graphs
3.1Sequences
3.3Graphs
3.4Common Graphs
4Geometry
4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles
4.2Polygons
4.5Circle Properties
4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem
4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes
4.83D Shapes & Volume
5Vectors & Transformation Geometry
6Statistics & Probability
6.1Statistical Measures
6.2Graphical Representation of Data
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