Download Integers – What are they? Problem: The highest elevation in North

Integers – What are they?
Problem: The highest elevation in North America is Mt. McKinley, which is 20,320 feet above sea level. The lowest
elevation is Death Valley, which is 282 feet below sea level. What is the distance from the top of Mt. McKinley to the
bottom of Death Valley?
Solution: The distance from the top of Mt. McKinley to sea level is 20,320 feet and the distance from sea level to the
bottom of Death Valley is 282 feet. The total distance is the sum of 20,320 and 282, which is 20,602 feet.
Integers – Any number in the sequence …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …
Integers are part of our everyday life. For example they help us to count, tell time, and make measurements.
Integers are whole numbers. They are NOT fractions or decimals.
Integers can be positive, negative, or zero numbers.
Here are a few simple rules that we follow when performing operations using integers.
Rule: The sum of two negative integers is a negative integer.
Example:
−5 + −2 = −7
Do not confuse the sign of the integer with the operation being performed.
Remember that: -2 + -9 = -11 is read as Negative 2 plus negative 9 equals negative 11.
Rule: The sum of two positive integers is a positive integer
Example:
.
6 + 9 = 15
Rule: To subtract an integer, add its opposite
Example:
7 − 10 = −3
Rule: A positive number x / ÷ positive number = positive number
Example:
8 × 2 = 16
Rule: A positive number x / ÷ negative number = negative number
Example:
−3 × 12 = −36
Rule: A negative number x / ÷ negative number = positive number
Example:
−10 × −9 = 90