1. Integers
Before we talk about integers, let's think about the numbers we first learned as children.
Natural Numbers
On this page
The natural numbers arise from counting. We can have
no objects: 0
one object: 1
two objects: 2
... etc.
:
We can represent the natural numbers on a one-dimensional number line. Here is a graph of the first 4 natural numbers:
We put a dot on those numbers that are included. In this case, we have graphed 0, 1, 2, and 3, but we have not included 4 to illustrate the point.
We can also write the natural numbers as a set:
{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ...}
The natural numbers are sometimes called whole numbers or counting numbers. There is some disagreement among mathematicians about whether or not zero should be included. [See Is 0 a Natural Number?]
Less Than and Greater Than
On the number line, LEFT is LESS. We use the "<" (less than) sign to indicate one number is smaller than another number.
So
1 < 3
We say this as "one is less than three".
We use the ">" (greater than) sign to indicate one number is bigger than another.
4 > 0
We say "four is greater than zero"
Negative Numbers
One of the biggest problems people have in mathematics is with negative numbers. Take great care with negatives!
A negative number is any number whose value is less than zero. We write a minus in front of negative numbers.
Examples
-2
-3/5
-3.97
-π
The negative numbers are represented on the left half of the number line, as follows:
Once again, we have put a dot on the numbers which are included in the set.
Uses of Negative Numbers
- Temperatures (below zero)
- Bank balances which are overdrawn
- Golf
- Engineering (forces acting in different directions)
- Science
Now we are ready to talk about integers.
Integers
The integers are defined as:
- The negative natural numbers (...,-4, -3, -2, -1) and
- 0; and
- The positive natural numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, ...).
Notice that the set of integers does not include decimals or fractions - just whole numbers.
We represent integers on the number line like this:
Recall from above that on the number line, LEFT is LESS.
So
-4 < 2 (we say "negative 4 is less than 2") and
-103 < -45.
Similarly, if a number is to the RIGHT of second number, it is greater than the second number.
2 > -2 (we say "2 is greater than negative 2") and
3 > -150
Absolute Value
The distance from 0 to an integer is its absolute value (written using vertical line brackets around the number).
Examples:
|-4| = 4
The distance from -4 to 0 is 4 units:
Similarly:
|3| = 3
|-12.85| = 12.85
Opposite of an Integer
The opposite of an integer is obtained by changing its sign. (That is, change - to + or change + to -).
Examples:
- The opposite of -3 is 3 and
- The opposite of 4 is -4.
Notice that opposite is not the same as absolute value.
Integer Addition
Use the number line and think of "journeys".
-2 + 5 means "start at -2 and go 5 in the positive direction"
So we have:
Our answer is:
-2 + 5 = 3
Similarly
3 + -7 means "start at 3 and go 7 in the negative direction".
Answer: -4
-5 + 12 means "start at -5 and go 12 in the positive direction"
Answer: 7
Problem: It is -4° and snowing. The forecast for tomorrow is for a rise in temperature of 6°. What will it be tomorrow?
Answer: -4 + 6 = 2. It will be 2° tomorrow.
Integer Subtraction
We can change the subtraction into a more familiar addition by realising that subtracting an integer is the same as adding its opposite.
Examples:
-4 − (-3) = -4 + (+3) = -1 (The opposite of -3 is +3.)
5 − (+7) = 5 + (-7) = -2. (The opposite of +7 is -7.)
Integer Multiplication
Example 1
5 × -3 = -15
Why is this so? We are simply taking "5 lots of -3", like this:
Notice that we were multiplying a positive number by a negative number and our result was negative.
Example 2
Similarly, we can show:
(a) -6 × 2 = -12 (negative times positive gives negative)
and
(b) -3 × -7 = 21 (multiplying 2 negatives gives a positive)
We can summarise the results for multiplying integers:
positive × positive = positive
+ × + = +
Signs the same: positive answer
Example: 2 × 3 = 6
negative × positive = negative
− × + = −
Signs different: negative answer
Example: -8 × 2 = -16
positive × negative = negative
+ × − = −
Signs different: negative answer
Example: 5 × -2 = -10
negative × negative = positive
− × − = +
Signs the same: positive answer
Example: -5 × -3 = 15
Problem:
What is a practical application for -3 × -7 = 21?
Integer Division
When we divide with negative numbers, we have similar results to those for multiplication:
positive ÷ positive = positive
+ ÷ + = +
Signs the same: positive answer
Example: 15 ÷ 3 = 5
negative ÷ positive = negative
− ÷ + = −
Signs different: negative answer
Example: -8 ÷ 2 = -4
positive ÷ negative = negative
+ ÷ − = −
Signs different: negative answer
Example: 21 ÷ -7 = -3
negative ÷ negative = positive
− ÷ − = +
Signs the same: positive answer
Example: -50 ÷ -5 = 10
We can rewrite division problems as multiplication problems, as in the following example.
Example:
-32 ÷ 4
is the same question as
4 × what? = -32
Problem:
What is a practical application for -10 ÷ 5 = -2?
Integer Properties
The set of integers is closed, commutative, associative and has an identity under both addition and multiplication.
The following table gives examples and explains what this means in plain English.
| Addition | Multiplication | |
| Closed | 3 + -7 = -4 When we add 2 integers, we get an integer. |
-5 × -3 = 15 When we multiply 2 integers, we get an integer. |
| Commutative | 4 + -5 = -5 + 4 It doesn't matter what order we add integers, we get the same answer. |
2 × -5 = -5 × 2 It doesn't matter what order we multiply integers, we get the same answer. |
| Associative | (4 + -2) + -5 = 4 + (-2 + -5) When adding 3 integers, it doesn't matter if we start by adding the first pair or the last pair; the answer is the same. |
(4 × -2) × -5 = 4 × (-2 × -5) When multiplying 3 integers, it doesn't matter if we start by multiplying the first pair or the last pair; the answer is the same. |
| Identity | -5 + 0 = 0 + -5 = -5 Zero is the identity element for addition. By adding zero on either side, we don't change the number. |
-3 × 1 = 1 × -3 = -3 One is the identity element for multiplication. By multiplying by 1 on either side, we don't change the number. |
The Distributive Law over addition and subtraction holds for integers:
| Addition | Subtraction | |
| Distributive | 3(2 + -4) We multiply each number inside the brackets by the number outside, retaining the plus in the middle. |
-2(5 − 7) We multiply each number inside the brackets by the number outside, retaining the minus in the middle. |
Games
A. Magic Square
In a magic square, all the rows, all the columns and the 2 diagonals must add to the same number.
1. Complete the magic square, using only the positive integers 1 to 9:
2. Complete the magic square, using only the integers:
-10, -8, -6, -4, 0, 2, 4, 6
B. Numbrosia Puzzle
Your goal is to turn all the numbers in the grid into zeros using as few moves as you can. Your moves involve row/column rotations and math operations (addition and subtraction of integers)..
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