C H A P T E R THEA Math Review CHAPTER SUMMARY This review covers the math skills you need to know for the THEA Mathematics test You will learn about arithmetic, measurement, algebra, geometry, and data analysis T he THEA Mathematics section measures those mathematical skills and concepts that an educated adult might need Many of the problems require the integration of multiple skills to achieve a solution It is composed of between 40 and 50 multiple-choice questions  Arithmetic This section covers the basics of mathematical operations and their sequence It also reviews variables, integers, fractions, decimals, and square roots Numbers and Symbols N UMBERS ■ ■ AND THE N UMBER L INE Counting numbers (or natural numbers): 1, 2, 3, Whole numbers include the counting numbers and zero: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 83 – THEA MATH REVIEW – ■ ■ ■ Integers include the whole numbers and their opposites Remember, the opposite of zero is zero: –3, –2, –1, 0, 1, 2, 3, Rational numbers are all numbers that can be written as fractions, where the numerator and denomina2 tor are both integers, but the denominator is not zero For example, 3 is a rational number, as is 56 The decimal form of these numbers is either a terminating (ending) decimal, such as the decimal form of 4 which is 0.75; or a repeating decimal, such as the decimal form of 3 which is 0.3333333 Irrational numbers are numbers that cannot be expressed as terminating or repeating decimals (i.e nonrepeating, non-terminating decimals such as π, 2 , 12 ) The number line is a graphical representation of the order of numbers As you move to the right, the value increases As you move to the left, the value decreases Greater Than –7 –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 Less Than If we need a number line to reflect certain rational or irrational numbers, we can estimate where they should be – 34 2   –6 –5 –4 –3 –2 –1 C OMPARISON S YMBOLS The following table will illustrate some comparison symbols: = is equal to 5=5 ≠ is not equal to 4≠3 > is greater than 5>3 ≥ is greater than or equal to x≥5 (x can be or any number > 5) < is less than 4 5) < is less than 4