Number System is the foundation of quantitative aptitude. It involves understanding the properties of numbers, their classifications, and various operations.
Types of Numbers
- Natural Numbers (N): (1, 2, 3, 4, …)
- Whole Numbers (W): (0, 1, 2, 3, …)
- Integers (Z): (…, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …)
- Rational Numbers (Q): Numbers that can be expressed as p/q, where q != 0.
- Irrational Numbers: Numbers that cannot be expressed as p/q (e.g., sqrt(2), pi).
- Real Numbers (R): The set of both rational and irrational numbers.
- Prime Numbers: Numbers with exactly two factors (1 and itself).
- Composite Numbers: Numbers with more than two factors.
Important Formulas
- Sum of first n natural numbers: n(n+1) / 2
- Sum of first n even numbers: n(n+1)
- Sum of first n odd numbers: n^2
- Sum of squares of first n natural numbers: n(n+1)(2n+1) / 6
- Sum of cubes of first n natural numbers: [n(n+1) / 2]^2
Shortcuts & Tips
- Units Digit Calculation: Observe the cyclicity of digits.
- 0, 1, 5, 6: Cyclicity 1 (remain the same)
- 4, 9: Cyclicity 2
- 2, 3, 7, 8: Cyclicity 4
- Trailing Zeros: The number of trailing zeros in n! is given by: num = floor(n/5) + floor(n/25) + floor(n/125) + …
- Divisibility by 11: The difference between the sum of digits at odd positions and even positions must be 0 or a multiple of 11.
Q: How do you find the units digit of 17^222?
A:
- Focus on the units digit of the base: 7.
- Observe the cyclicity of 7: 7^1=7, 7^2=49, 7^3=343, 7^4=2401 (repeats every 4 powers).
- Divide the exponent by 4: 222 / 4 gives a remainder of 2.
- The units digit is 7^2 = 49, so the units digit is 9.
Q: How many trailing zeros are in 100!?
A: Use the formula: floor(100/5) + floor(100/25) = 20 + 4 = 24
Q: How can you quickly tell if a number is NOT a perfect square?
A:
- A perfect square never ends in 2, 3, 7, or 8.
- The digital sum (sum of digits until a single digit remains) of a perfect square must be 1, 4, 7, or 9.
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