Integers

6.1 Integers
1. Integers whole number that has a positive sign (+) or a negative sign (), including zero.
2. Positive integer whole number with a positive sign (+) or without any sign.
Example: +2 or 2, +7 or 7, 8, 12
3. Negative integer whole number with a negative sign ().
Example: -3, -10, -12
4. Fractions and decimal numbers are not integers.
2 1
Example: , 2.6 , 3.2 , 1
5 3
5. Integers can be represented using a horizontal or a vertical number line.

Example: Use a number line to represent the integers from -5 to 3.

Example: Mark 6, -3, -1 and 4 on a number line.

6. On a horizontal number line, an integer is always greater than the integers to its left and less
than the integers to its right.

-2 is greater than -4, but is less than 1.

Example: Which integer is greater, -2 or -8?

Answer:

7. Integers can be arranged in increasing or decreasing order using a number line.

Example: Arrange -4, 6, -3, 5, 0 and 1 in increasing order.

Answer:
Example: Arrange 6, 0, 4, -2 and -4 in decreasing order.

Answer:
8. Positive number any number with a positive sign (+) or without any sign.
2 1
Example: 1 , , 2.6 , 3.2 , 1
5 3
9. Negative number any number with a negative sign ().
2 1
Example: 1 , , 2.6 , 1
5 3
10. Positive and negative numbers are frequently used in real life situations involving:
a) Increase in value or decrease in value
Example: Price of an egg increased by 2 sen can be written as +2 sen. The price of an egg
decreased by 1 sen can be written as -1 sen.
b) Values greater than zero or less than zero
Example: 36 m above sea level is written as +36 m. 50 m below sea level is written as
-50 m.
 c) Opposite direction
Example: If 8 km to the north is represented by +8 km, 10 km to the south is represented
by -10 km.
Exercise
Use a positive or negative number to represent each of the following word descriptions.
a) A profit of RM500 ___________________
b) A loss of RM80 ___________________
c) 3 hours before take-off ___________________
d) 2 hours after take-off ___________________
e) 5 m above sea level ___________________
f) 7 m below sea level ___________________

11. Work out the temperature after each of these changes.

a. The temperature starts at 6 C and it falls by 13 C .
b. The temperature starts at 2 C and it falls by 8 C .
2 Addition and Subtractions of Integers
1. Addition of integers
a) Adding an integer to a positive integer can be represented using a number line by a
movement towards the positive direction, which means from left to right.
Example: -2 + 4 = _________

Example: -3 + 5 = _________

b) Adding an integer to a negative integer can be represented using a number line by a

movement towards the negative direction, which means from right to left.
Example: 2 + (-4) = _________

Example: 6 + (-4) + (-5) = _________

Example: The initial temperature of a cold storage was -2C. Two hours later, the temperature
dropped by 3C. When the cold storage was switched off, the temperature rose by 7C. What
was the new temperature of the cold storage?
Solution:
2. Subtraction of integers
The difference between two integers is the number of steps required to move from the second
integer to reach the first integer on a number line.
a) If you move to the right, you will get a positive integer.
Example: -3 (-8) = ________

Example: 4 (-3) = __________

b) If you move to the left, you will get a negative integer.

Example: -8 (-3) = ________

Example: -6 2 = __________

Example: In the morning, the temperature of a city was -3C. Its temperature then dropped by
5C in the afternoon. At night, its temperature dropped by another 4C. Find the temperature
of the city at night.
Solution:
3. Simplifying addition and subtraction of integers:
a + (+b) = a + b
a + (-b) = a b
a (+b) = a b
a (-b) = a + b
Example:

a) 17 (4)

b) 7 (2)

c)9 (1)

d)8 (4) 3

e) 6 (7) (2)

f) 8 (7) 12