Parents: Help your child or teen

Online Volumes (Book Orders)
1,  Elements of Reason. 1996
1A. Pattern Based Reason  1995
1B. Math Curriculum Notes 1996
2. Three Skills for Algebra  1995
3.
_Why_Slopes_&_More_Math_1995

More Site Areas 
1.  Solving Linear Equations  2005
2.-Fractions-Rates-Proportns-Units-2006
3.  Algebra, Odds & Ends, HS level-2001
4.-Euclidean-Geometry/Complex No.s 
5.  Analytic Geometry/Functions 2006
6.  Number Theory. 2006-7
7.  Complex Numbers More 2001
8.  Calculus Introduction 2005
More Site Areas 
9   Real  Analysis 1995
10. Secondary IV? maths 2006-7
11. Math Education Essays  2006-7
12. LaTeX2HotEqn: 2004
13. Electric Circuits Etc  2007
14. Quebec Math Education 2004
15-Prequel-to-the-How-TOs-06-2008
How TOs/ Ref.-08- 2008
1. Arithmetic Reference
2. Algebra 
3. More Algebra 
4. Geometry  
5. More Geometry
6. Calculus
7. Logics in Maths


Employ an online or offline tutor at your own risk from 

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CDN: Montreal Tutors
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UK:   tutorhunt.com 
UK:  tutors4me.co.uk
USA:  wiziq.com
USA: ziizoo.com

YOU are better than YOU think. Show yourself  how:

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 For better work & study skills, read logic chapters 1 to 5  in  Three Skills for Algebra. Sooner is better. Good luck.

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 Logic Mastery
 Amazing, Amusing, Amorous,  Delicious, Delightful, Edifying, Strengthening Elixir. 
It eases work & learning difficulties Makes the hard easier. Opens eyes. Leads to greater precision.
in reading and writing

Do not leave here without it -  Logic mastery  will develops critical thinking, improve reading and writing, and give a firmer base for work and studies at many levels. Good luck.

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Caution: Site advice is approximately correct, for some circumstances, not all. Site How-TOs are logically developed, but not tried and tested. That leaves room for thought and refinement..

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After logic  (a) continue reading Three Skills for Algebra, chapters 8 to 14  and do so alongside site area on solving linear2007 Equations ; or (b) see this calculus starter lesson and Volume 3, Why Slopes  & More Math, chapters 2 to 6;


For online automated help in senior high school maths & calculus, visit  quickmath.com  For Automatic Calculus and Algebra Help with derivatives, integrals, graphs, linear equations, matrix algebra, visit calc101.com  With  overlap, each site quickmath & calc101offers a different range of services, some free, some not, all based on webmathematica. Good luck.


Explore collaborative whiteboards from groupboardtwiddla  or scriblink.


Prime Decomposition of Whole Numbers

This lesson focuses on obtaining prime factors and prime decomposition of whole numbers. Prime decompositions are called prime factorizations as well. 

Recognition of prime factors and the prime decomposition of whole numbers aid calculations of LCM, GCD and LCD in arithmetic with whole numbers and fractions. They also lead to cosmetic simplification of square roots. The recognition of common factors in numerators and denominators of fractions alone or in products helps with the reduction of fractions and via cancellation leads to efficient methods for multiplying fractions.  

The question of whether or not, a whole number is prime may be related to its decimal representation. 

A whole number is not prime if is a proper multiple of 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11, or equivalently if it remainder, modulo these small primes is zero. The multiple one of each of these primes is considered improper. The decimal-based rules for recognizing multiples of these primes (or calculating remainders) can be used to recognize prime factors.

The numbers 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 are the smallest primes. A theorem of Euler shows there the number of primes is unlimited.  Given any finite sequence of prime numbers, their product plus one is a prime or is a multiple of a prime not in the sequence. 

Squaring the five primes 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 squared give the sequence 4, 9, 25, 49 and 121 of whole numbers. 

Theorem:  If N = AB is product of two whole numbers A and B where A > B > 1  then A2 > N and N2 > B.

Proof:  N = AB < AA = A2 .Therefore A2 > N. Similarly N = AB > BB = B2 .Therefore B2 < N.

The above theorem implies if N is a product of two whole numbers, both greater than one,  than the smallest squared will be less than or equal to N and the largest squared will be greater than or equal to N. Now the smallest factor is a prime or it a multiple of a prime. In either case there is prime whose square is less than or equal to the smallest factor squared and hence less than or equal to the original number N. 

Theorem:  If N = AB is product of two whole numbers A and B where A > B > 1  then N has a prime factor p with square p2 < N.

Contrapositive Consequence: If N has is not a proper multiple of all primes p with square p2 < N then N cannot be decomposed in to a product of two smaller whole numbers, and hence N is prime. 

Squaring the first six primes 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 and 13 squared give the sequence 4, 9, 25, 49,  121 and 169 of whole numbers. 

The Contrapositive consequence implies the following. 

If N < 169 = 132 is not divisible by any of the primes 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 then N is a prime number. 

Proof: If N < 169 is divisible by a prime less than itself, then there is a prime p with square p2 < N < 169 which divides into p.  So p has to be one of the first five primes 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 as all further primes have square > 169 > N

So to check if a whole number N < 169 is a prime, is enough to compute the remainders for N when N is divided by 2, 3, 5, 7 or 11. The latter can be done with the help of divisibility rules for recognizing multiples of these primes, with the help of the 10 or 12 times table, or with the aid of a calculator.  

Calculator Rounding  Hazard: If some prime p,  N/p = q for a whole number q according to your calculator, due to the possibility of rounding, you need to compare pq and N. Most calculators can compute a product of whole numbers exactly. So if the  product pq is not equal to N, you know that some rounding error led you to think p was a divisor and N was the exact multiple q of p.

Rule of Thumb

 In learning and applying algebra exactly,  one only needs to compute with fractions or ratios of whole numbers less than 100 or so. So the efficient ability to find recognize prime factors of whole numbers less than 169 (or 100) appears sufficient for most purposes in high school and college mathematics and science courses.

Curiosity

Theorem:  If N = AB is product of two whole numbers A and B where A > B > 1  then N has a prime factor p < N with square p2 < N.

Contrapositive Consequence: If N has is not a proper multiple of all primes p with square p2 > N then N cannot be decomposed in to a product of two smaller whole numbers, and hence N is prime. 

The "density" of primes relative to the set of whole numbers gets smaller as the primes increase.  So if you are searching for primes factors of a large number N with the aid of a calculator or computer program, checking for divisibility of N starting with the largest primes p satisfying p < N with square p2 > N might involve less work (fewer divisions) than starting with the smallest primes p  with square p2 < N. 

 

www.whyslopes.com
Number Theory

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Start of Number Theory

Origins of Counting or Tallying
Adding Wholes
Multipling Wholes
Distributive Law  Preamble
Distributive Law for Wholes
Consequences
More Consequences
What is a Fraction
Compound Fractions

Number Theory
Continued


Decimal Place Value
Place Value Reinforcement
Comparison Method
Addition Method
Subtraction Methods
Multiplication Methods
Division Methods
Remainder Arithmetic I
Primes & Composites
Primes Factorization Theorem
Primes & Composites
Prime Factorization Aids
Prime Factorization Examples
Counting  Whole No.  Factors
Arithmetic Videos
Square Roots  & Primes
Long Division Continued
Fractions & Decimals
Fractions as Decimals
1 = 0.999 Recurring
Infinite Decimals Expansion Arithmetic
Ratio of Simple Fractions
Ratio of Decimal Fractions
Unsigned Reals Numbers
Signed Coordinates
Plane Vectors
Horizontal Vectors
Adding Vector Multiplies
Adding Signed Numbers
Multiplying Signed Numbers
Distributive Law for Reals
Real Numbers Axioms
Remainder Arithmetic II

Related Site Pages:

For online automated help in senior high school maths & calculus, visit  quickmath.com  For Automatic Calculus and Algebra Help with derivatives, integrals, graphs, linear equations, matrix algebra, visit calc101.com  With  overlap, each site quickmath & calc101offers a different range of services, some free, some not, all based on webmathematica. Good luck

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Wordy Site Tour:  Not too Bad Vol 2. Foreword 1A Foreword2  Logic Puzzles,  
What is a Variable
  Calculus Starter Guide  Vol 1 Foreword,  
 
 
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