CHAPTER ONE

NATURAL NUMBERS

Specific Objectives
By the end of the topic the learner should be able to:

a.) Identify, read and write natural numbers in symbols and words;
b.) Round off numbers to the nearest tens, hundreds, thousands, millions
and billions;
c.) Classify natural numbers as even, odd or prime;
d.) Solve word problems involving natural numbers.
Content
a.) Place values of numbers
b.) Rounding off numbers to the nearest tens, hundreds, thousands,
millions and billions c.) Odd numbers
d.) Even numbers
e.) Prime numbers
f.) Word problems involving natural numbers Introduction
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 Place value
A digit have a different value in a number because of its position in a
number. The position of a digit in a number is called its place value.

Total value
This is the product of the digit and its place value.

Example
mber Hundred Ten Millions Hundred Ten Thousands Hundred Tens ones
Millions Millions Thousands Thousands

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
5,678,901

7 6 9 3 0 1 8 5 4
9,301,854

9 0 2 3 5 0 4 0 9
2,350,409

A place value chart can be used to identify both place value and total
value of a digit in a number. The place value chart is also used in writing
numbers in words.

Example
✓ Three hundred and forty five million, six hundred and seventy eight

thousand, nine hundred and one. ✓ Seven hundred and sixty nine
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 million, Three hundred and one thousand, eight hundred and fifty
four.

Billions
A billion is one thousands million, written as 1, 000, 000,000.There are
ten places in a billion.

Example
What is the place value and total value of the digits below?

a.) 47,397,263,402 (place value 7 and 8).

b.) 389,410 ,000,245 ( place 3 and 9)

Solution
a.) The place value for 6 is ten thousands. Its total value is 60,000.
b.) The place value of 3 is hundred billions. Its total value is
300,000,000,000.

Rounding off
When rounding off to the nearest ten, the ones digit determines the ten
i.e. if the ones digit is 1, 2, 3, or 4 the nearest ten is the ten number being

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considered. If the ones digit is 5 or more the nearest ten is the next ten
or rounded up.

Thus 641 to the nearest ten is 640, 3189 to the nearest is 3190.

When rounding off to the nearest 100, then the last two digits or
numbers end with 1 to 49 round off downwards. Number ending with
50 to 99 are rounded up.

Thus 641 to the nearest hundred is 600, 3189 is 3200.

Example
Rounding off each of the following numbers to the nearest
number indicated in the bracket: a.) 473,678 ( 100)
b.) 524,239 (1000)
c.) 2,499 (10)

Solution
a.) 473,678 is 473,700 to the nearest 100.
b.) 524,239 is 524,000 to the nearest 1000
c.) 2,499 is 2500 to the nearest 10.
Operations on whole Numbers Addition Example
Find out:

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 a.) 98 + 6734 + 348
b.) 6349 + 259 +7954

Solution
Arrange the numbers in vertical forms

98

6734

+ 348

7180

6349

259

+ 79542

86150

Subtracting Example
Find: 73469 – 8971

Solution
73469

- 8971
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 64498

Multiplication
The product is the result of two or more numbers.

Example
Work out: 469 x 63

Solution
469

X 63

1407 → 469 𝑥 3 = 1407

+ 28140→ 469 𝑥 60 = 28140

29547

Division
When a number is divided by the result is called the quotient. The
number being divided is the divided and the number dividing is the
divisor.

Example
Find: 6493 ÷ 14
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Solution
We get 463 and 11 is the remainder
Note:
6493 = (463 x 14) + 11

In general, dividend = quotient x division + remainder.

Operation Words

Addition sum plus

added
more
increased
by than

difference
minus
subtracted from
Subtraction less than
decreased by

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 reduced by
deducted
from
Multiplication product of
multiply
times
twice
thrice
Division quotient of
divided by
Equal equal to
result is
is
Word problem
In working the word problems, the information given must be read and
understood well before attempting the question.
The problem should be broken down into steps and identify each other
operations required.

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Example
Otego had 3469 bags of maize, each weighing 90 kg. He sold 2654 of
them.

a.) How many kilogram of maize was he left with?

b.) If he added 468 more bags of maize, how many bags did he end up
with?

Solution
a.) One bag weighs 90 kg.
3469 bags weigh 3469 x 90 = 312,210 kg

2654 bags weigh 2654 x 90 = 238,860

kg Amount of maize left = 312,210
– 238,860
= 73,350 kg.

b.) Number of bags = 815 + 468

=1283

Even Number
A number which can be divided by 2 without a remainder E.g. 0,2,4,6
0 or 8

3600, 7800, 806, 78346

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Odd Number
Any number that when divided by 2 gives a remainder. E.g. 471,123,
1197,7129.The numbers ends with the following digits 1, 3, 5,7 or 9.

Prime Number
A prime number is a number that has only two factors one and the
number itself.

For example, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 and 19.

Note:
i.) 1 is not a prime number.
ii.) 2 is the only even number which is a prime number.
End of
topic

Did you understand everything?

If not ask a teacher, friends or anybody and make sure you
understand before going to sleep!

Past KCSE Questions on the topic

1.) Write 27707807 in words

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2.) All prime numbers less than ten are arranged in descending order
to form a number
a.) Write down the number formed
b.) What is the total value of the second digit?
c.) Write the number formed in words.

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