1.

What are you going to Positive and Negative Numbers

learn?
In a weather forecast, it is predicted that it will rain in
À To use negative
numbers the city P with a minimum temperature of 1 ºC below
À To draw integers in zero and a maximum temperature of 6 ºC. It will be
a number line
À To compare sunny in the city Q with a temperature of 6 ºC and
integers
cloudy in the city R with a temperature of 10 ºC. Can
À To put integers in a
sequence whole numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, ... represent the situation

Key Terms: above?

• integers
• positive integers
• negative integers
• number line A bird is perching on the top of the mast of a
fisherman’s boat with a height of 3 metres. Meanwhile,
the fisherman is diving 5 meters under the sea level.

-
Look at the picture of a thermometer on
the right. What numbers are on the
+5
picture?

You may write the temperature of 5 degrees above zero

0
as 5 ºC, and write the temperature of 5 degrees below

zero as -5 ºC. The number 5 is read as positive 5 while the

number –5 is read as negative 5. The numbers 5 and -5
-5 can be drawn on a vertical or a horizontal line as
follows.

Vertical number line -5 0 +5

Horizontal number line

Mathematics for Junior High School - Year 7 / 1

 A set of integers; ..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ... , can be
symbolized as I. The three dots (...) on the right and
the left mean that the numbers continue without
ending to both directions.

The complete number line of integers can be drawn as

follows.
z z z z z z z z z z z z z
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Negative integers Positive integers

0 is neither positive nor negative

Example 1 a. Determine all integers between −5 and 4.

Solution:
−4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3

b. Write all even integers between −6 and 11.

Solution:
The even integers between −6 and 11 are −4, −2, 0, 2,
4, 6, 8, and 1

Use the number line above, answer the following:

• What is the number on the left of 0 with the same
distance as the distance from 0 to 2? The number is
called the inverse of 2.
• What is the number on the right of 0 with the same
distance as the distance from 0 to -4? The number is
called the inverse of -4.
• What is the sum of -4 and its inverse?
• What is the inverse of 6?
• What is the inverse of -5?
• Without using a number line, find the inverse of 12.
• Without using a number line, find the inverse of −15.
• Does every integer have an inverse?
• What is the sum of an integer and its inverse?

2 / Student’s Book – Integers

 Comparing and Ordering Integers
Suppose 5 and -5 are on a number line. How many
units are there from 0 to 5? How many units are there
from 0 to -5? Two numbers are said inverse to each
other if they have the same distance from 0 on the
number line, but different direction. What are other
numbers that inverse to each other?

Let 5 and 3 be on a number line. Which number has a

longer distance from 0? Which number has a shorter
distance from 0? What other numbers have a shorter
distance than 5? What other numbers have a longer
distance from 0 than 3?
Remember
On a horizontal number line, the numbers located on
= is read equal to
< is read less than the left side of another number are always less than
> is read greater than
those on the right side. For instance, since 3 is on the
3 < 5 is read three is
less than five left side of 5, 3 is less than 5, written as 3 < 5. Since 5 is
5 > 3 is read five is
greater than three on right side of 3, 5 is greater than 3 or 5 > 3.

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
decrease increase

What if we use a vertical number line?

Example 2 Change the sign † to <, >, or = on −4 † −7

Solution:

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

The number −4 is located on the right side of −7.

Mathematics for Junior High School - Year 7 / 3

 Therefore, −4 > −7.

Arrange the following numbers from the least to the

Problem 1
greatest.
a. 5, −3, 6, −6, 2, 4, −1
b. 9, −5, 6, −12, 17, 8, −14

In a mathematics test, the score for the right answer is 4,

Problem 2
for the wrong answer is -1, and 0 for failing to answer.

Complete the table below (use a spreadsheet, if

possible) and then sort the students based on their
scores from the highest to the lowest.

Students’ Number Number Number of Total

Names of Correct of Wrong Unanswered Score
Answers Answers Questions
Abdullah 5 3 2

Aminah 6 4 0

Galuh Erna 5 2 3

Zainul 8 2 0

Nabila 8 1 1

Zaty 8 0 2

Hamidah 7 1 2

Yusuf 7 3 0

4 / Student’s Book – Integers

1. Draw a number line. Put each of the following
numbers on your number line.

a. –1 b. 4 c. –7 d. –9 e. 2 f. 8

2. Write an integer expressing a temperature of 14

degrees Celsius below zero.

3. Write the inverses of the following integers.

a. 13 b. –8 c. 150 d. −212

4. Write three opposing pairs of situations. For

example, stepping up two steps and stepping
down two steps on a staircase.

5. Change the sign † to <, >, or =.

a. 0 † −8 b. 1 †−7 c. −12 †−5 d. –3 †−7
e. −66 †5 f. 76 †−239 g. −999 † −99 h. −45
†−45

6. Write the following integers from the least to

the greatest.
a. –2, 3, 4, −1 b. 3, −2, 0, −7 c. 4, −5, −2, 3, −1
d. –12, 0, −3, 9, 98, −10, 54
e. –1, 0, −11, −101, −111, 101, 11

7. Write the following integers from the least to

the greatest.
a. –10, 8, 0, −6, 5 b. 56, −56, −40
c. 0, −12, −3, −5, −64 d. 75, −3, −4, 12, 0, 9, −10

8. Write an integer which is between the integers

below.

Mathematics for Junior High School - Year 7 / 5

 a. –7 and 3 b. 0 and −6 c. –5 and −13

9. Critical Thinking. Why is any negative

integer less than any positive integer? Explain.

10. Critical Thinking. Write down the steps to

determine whether an integer is greater or less

than another integer.

6 / Student’s Book – Integers