Whole Number Review

Definition of Whole Numbers and Integers

Whole numbers are the set of numbers that include zero and all positive integers, without fractions or decimals. Integers include all whole numbers and their negative counterparts.

• Whole Number: Any of the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, ...

• Integer: Any whole number, positive or negative, including zero (e.g., -3, 0, 7).

• Application: Whole numbers are used in counting objects, labeling, and basic calculations in daily life and health sciences.

Math Symbols & Number Statements

Mathematical symbols are used to compare and relate numbers in statements.

Basic Operations with Whole Numbers

Addition and Subtraction

Addition and subtraction are fundamental operations for combining and separating quantities.

• Addition: Combining two or more numbers to get a sum. Example:

• Subtraction: Finding the difference between two numbers. Example:

Multiplication and Division

Multiplication is repeated addition, while division is splitting a number into equal parts.

• Multiplication:

• Division:

Application in Health Sciences

Basic math operations are used in calculating medication dosages, intake/output, and inventory management.

Rounding and Estimation

Rounding

Rounding is the process of adjusting a number to a specified place value for simplicity or estimation.

• When Used: Rounding is used when exact values are not necessary, such as estimating costs or measurements.

• Rounding Rules:

  1. Identify the place value to round to.

  2. Look at the digit to the right of the place value.

  3. If the digit is 5 or greater, round up; if less than 5, round down.

• Example: Round 5,218 to the nearest hundred: 5,200.

Estimation

Estimation is the process of finding an approximate value that is close to the actual value.

• Application: Used in budgeting, time management, and health calculations.

• Example: Estimate the sum of by rounding each to the nearest ten: .

Statistical Measures

Median

The median is the middle value in a set of ordered data.

• Steps to Compute:

  1. Order the data from least to greatest.

  2. If the number of data points is odd, the median is the middle value.

  3. If even, the median is the average of the two middle values.

• Example: For the set {7, 8, 12, 14, 23}, the median is 12.

Mode

The mode is the value that appears most frequently in a data set.

• Example: For the set {7, 4, 6, 13, 3, 3, 1}, the mode is 3.

Range

The range is the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

• Formula:

• Example: For the set {7, 14, 23, 24, 16, 12}, the range is .

Time Conversion

Standard and Universal Time

Standard time uses a 12-hour clock with a.m. and p.m. Universal time (military time) uses a 24-hour clock.

• Conversion: For times after 12:00 p.m., add 12 to the hour to convert to universal time.

• Example: 8:24 a.m. = 0824; 12:45 p.m. = 1245; 5:57 p.m. = 1757.

Applications in Health Sciences

Inventory and Dosage Calculations

Basic math skills are essential for calculating medication dosages, inventory needs, and patient intake/output in healthcare settings.

• Example: If a dental office started with 2,258 gloves and used 784, the remaining gloves are .

• Example: If labels come in boxes of 500 and 579 are needed, the office needs 2 boxes (since 579/500 = 1.158, round up to 2).

Additional info: These foundational math skills are critical for students entering health science fields, including nursing and pharmacy, where accurate calculations impact patient safety and care quality.