Integers

Integers are whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero. Picture a number line: positive numbers sit to the right of 0 and negative numbers to the left.

The rules, one example each

Adding to a negative. Start on the negative number and move right: -8 + 5 = -3.
Subtracting a bigger positive. Go down past 0 into the negatives: 4 - 9 = -5.
Subtracting a negative. Two minuses make a plus, so 6 - (-3) = 6 + 3 = 9.
Multiplying with the same signs. Same signs give a positive answer: (-7) × (-3) = 21.
Multiplying with different signs. Different signs give a negative answer: (-6) × 4 = -24.
Dividing. The sign rules are the same as for multiplying, so (-20) ÷ (-5) = 4.

Practice

Warming up your practice…