Integers

Integers include positive whole numbers, negative whole numbers, and zero.
The set of all integers is often shown like this:

Integers = { -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, }

The dots at each end of the set mean that you can keep counting in either direction. The set can also be shown
as a number line:

The arrows on each end of the number line mean that you can keep counting in either direction.

Adding and Subtracting Integers

Looking at a number line can help you when you need to add or subtract integers.
Whether you are adding or subtracting two integers, start by using the number line to find the first
number. Put your finger on it. Let's say the first number is 3.

Then, if you are adding a positive number, move your finger to the right as many places as the value
of that number. For example, if you are adding 4, move your finger 4 places to the right.

3+4=7

If you are adding a negative number, move your finger to the left as many places as the value of that
number. For example, if you are adding -4, move your finger 4 places to the left.

3 + -4 = -1

If you are subtracting a positive number, move your finger to the left as many places as the value of
that number. For example, if you are subtracting 4, move your finger 4 places to the left.

3 - 4 = -1

If you are subtracting a negative number, move your finger to the right as many places as the value of
that number. For example, if you are subtracting -4, move your finger 4 places to the right.

3 - -4 = 7
Here are two rules to remember:

Adding a negative number is just like subtracting a positive number.

3 + -4 = 3 - 4
Subtracting a negative number is just like adding a positive number. The two negatives cancel out each

other.

3 + 4 = 3 - -4

Multiplying and Dividing Integers

If you multiply or divide two positive numbers, the result will be positive.

6 x 2 = 12
6/2=3
If you multiply or divide a positive number with a negative number, the result will be negative.

6 x -2 = -12
6 / -2 = -3
If you multiply or divide two negative numbers, the result will be positivethe two negatives will cancel out
each other.

-6 x -2 = 12
-6 / -2 = 3

Is It an Integer?
Integers are whole numbers and their negative opposites. Therefore, these numbers can never be
integers:

fractions

decimals

percents

Whole Numbers and Integers

Whole Numbers
Whole Numbers are simply the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... (and so on)

No Fractions!

Counting Numbers
Counting Numbers are Whole Numbers, but without the zero. Because you can't
"count" zero .
So they are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... (and so on).

Natural Numbers
"Natural Numbers" can mean either "Counting Numbers" {1, 2, 3, ...}, or "Whole
Numbers" {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}, depending on the subject.

Integers
Integers are like whole numbers, but they also include negative numbers ... but still
no fractions allowed!

So, integers can be negative {-1, -2,-3, -4, -5, ... }, positive {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }, or zero
{0}
We can put that all together like this:

Integers = { ..., -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

Example, these are all integers:

-16, -3, 0, 1, 198
(But numbers like , 1.1 and 3.5 are not integers)

These are all integers (click to mark), and they continue left and right
infinitely:
2015 MathsIsFun.com v0.77

Some People Have Different Definitions!

Some people (not me) say that whole numbers can also be negative, which makes them
exactly the same as integers.
And some people say that zero is NOT a whole number. So there you go, not everyone
agrees on a simple thing!

My Standard
I usually stick to this:
Name

Numbers

Examples

Whole Numbers

{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

0, 27, 398, 2345

Counting Numbers

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

1, 18, 27, 2061

Integers

{ ... -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... } -15, 0, 27, 1102

And everyone agrees on the definition of an integer, so when in doubt say "integer".
And when you only want positive integers, say "positive integers". It is not only
accurate, it makes you sound intelligent. Like this (note: zero isn't positive or negative):

Integers = { ..., -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

Negative Integers = { ..., -5, -4, -3, -2, -1 }

Positive Integers = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... }

Non-Negative Integers = { 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... } (includes zero, see?)

Adding Positive and Negative Integers

There are three appealing ways to understand how to add integers. We can
usemovement, temperature and money. Lastly, we will take a look at the rules for addition.

Movement
You are probably familiar with a number line (see below). Traditionally, zero is
placed in the center. Positive numbers extend to the right of zero and negative
numbers extend to the left of zero. In order to add positive and negative integers, we
will imagine that we are moving along a number line.

Example 1:
If asked to add 4 and 3, we would start by moving to the number 4 on the number
line -- exactly four units to the right of zero. Then we would move three units to the
right. Since we landed up seven units to the right of zero as a result of these
movements, the answer must be 7.
Example 2:
If asked to add 8 and -2, we would start by moving eight units to the right of zero.
Then we would move two units left from there because negative numbers make us
move to the left side of the number line. Since our last position is six units to the right
of zero, the answer is 6.
Example 3:
If asked to add -13 and 4, we start by moving thirteen units to the left of zero. Then
we move four units to the right. Since we land up nine units to the left of zero, the
answer is -9.
Example 4:
If asked to add -6 and -5, first move six units to the left of zero. Then move five
units further left. Since we are a total of eleven units left of zero, the answer is -11.
Here is a video that explains how to use a number line to add and subtract
numbers.

Temperature
The temperature model for adding integers is exactly the same as the movement model because
most thermometers are really number lines that stand upright. The numbers can be thought of as

temperature changes. Positive numbers make the temperature indicator rise. Negative numbers
make the temperature indicator fall.
Adding two positive temperatures will result in a positive temperature, similar to example 1
above. Adding two negative temperatures will result in a negative temperature, similar to example
4 above.
Examples 2 and 3 can be understood in a different way by imagining a battle between two
temperatures. When we added 8 and -2 in example 2, there was more positive temperature than
negative temperature which would explain the result --positive 6. In example 3 there was more
negative temperature than positive. That will explain why the answer is negative.

Money
It can be helpful to think of money when doing integer addition. The positive numbers represent
income while the negative numbers represent debt.
When adding two incomes, like example 1 above, the answer has to be a bigger income and the
result is a positive number. When adding two debts, like example 4 above, the answer has to be
another debt. In fact, accountants would call it 'falling deeper in debt.'
Similar to our temperature battle between warm temperatures and cold temperatures, adding
positive and negative numbers is like comparing income to debt. If there is more income than debt
the answer will be positive, like example 2. If there is more debt than income the answer will be
negative, like example 3.

Rules for Addition

Below is a table to help condense the rules for addition. Note the second and third rows of the
body of the table. Those answers are dependant upon the original values.
Rules for Addition

Positive + Positive

Positive

Positive + Negative

Depends

Negative + Positive

Depends

Negative + Negative

Negative

Subtracting Positive and Negative Integers

Instead of coming up with a new method for explaining how to subtract integers, let us
borrow from the explanation above under the addition of integers. We will learn how to
transform subtraction problems into addition problems.
The technique for changing subtraction problems into addition problems is extremely
mechanical. There are two steps:
1. Change the subtraction sign into an addition sign.
2. Take the opposite of the number that immediately follows the newly placed
addition sign.
Let's take a look at example 1:

3-4
According to step #1, we have to change the subtraction sign to an addition sign.
According to step #2, we have to take the opposite of 4, which is -4. Therefore the
problem becomes:
3 + (-4)
Using the rules for addition, the answer is -1.
Here are a few other examples:
Example 2: -2 - 8 = -2 + (-8) = -10
Example 3: 6 - (-20) = 6 + 20 = 26
Example 4: -7 - (-1) = -7 + 1 = -6
Multiplying Positive and Negative Integers
The best place to start with multiplication, is with the rules:
Rules for Multiplication

Positive x Positive

Positive

Positive x Negative

Negative

Negative x Positive

Negative

Negative x Negative

Positive

Now we have to understand the rules. The first rule is the easiest to remember because
we learned it so long ago. Working with positive numbers under multiplication always
yeilds positive answers. However, the last three rules are a bit more challenging to
understand.
The second and third steps can be explained simultaneously. This is because numbers
can be multiplied in any order. -3 x 7 has the same answer as 7 x -3, which is always true
for all integers. [This property has a special name in mathematics. It is called the
commutative property.] For us, this means the second and third rules are equivalent.
One reason why mathematics has so much value is because its usefulness is derived
from its consistency. It behaves with strict regularity. This is no accident, mind you. This is
quite purposeful.
Keeping this in mind, let's take a look at Figure 2a below. There is a definite pattern to
the problems in the table. The values in the first column remain constant but the values in
the second column are decreasing by one, each step down the table. Consequently, the
answer column is changing. The answers to each problem have a definite pattern as we
go down the table too. It should be relatively easy to determine the two missing answers.
Figure 2a

2x3=6
2x2=4
2x1=2
2x0=0
2 x -1 = ?

2 x -2 = ?
If you understand the pattern, you will see that the values in the answer column are
decreasing. Each value in the answer column is two less than the value above it.
See Figure 2b to see the solutions to those last two problems.
Figure 2b

2x3=6
2x2=4
2x1=2
2x0=0
2 x -1 = -2
2 x -2 = -4
This should provide some meaning why a positive number times a negative number is
always a negative number. Since we can multiply numbers in any order, it also explains
why a negative number times a positive number is always a negative number.
5 x -6 = -6 x 5 = -30
Now, let us turn our attention to Figure 3a below. This table has a pattern similar to the
one in Figure 2a. However, Figure 3a begins with a negative number in the first column.
As we scan the list of answers in the last column, we can see that the last two problems
remain unanswered.
Figure 3a

-8 x 3 = -24
-8 x 2 = -16
-8 x 1 = -8
-8 x 0 = 0
-8 x -1 = ?
-8 x -2 = ?
With a little concentration, we can see that the two unanswered questions must have
positive answers to maintain mathematical consistency. Why? The pattern within the last
column shows that the values are increasing by 8 as we travel down the column. Figure
3bshows the table completely filled in.
Figure 3b

-8 x 3 = -24
-8 x 2 = -16
-8 x 1 = -8
-8 x 0 = 0
-8 x -1 = 8
-8 x -2 = 16
This should help us understand why a negative number times a negative number is
always a postive number.
Here are some examples:
Example 1: 4 x -8 = -32
Example 2: -6 x 8 = -48
Example 3: -20 x -3 = 60
Dividing Positive and Negative Integers

The rules for division are exactly the same as those for multiplication. If we were to take
the rules for multiplication and change the multiplication signs to division signs, we would
have an accurate set of rules for division.
Here are three examples:
Example 1: -9 3 = -3
Example 2: 20 (-4) = -5
Example 3: -18 (-3) = 6