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Integers — Understand & Practice
Positive numbers, negative numbers, and zero — learn how they work and practise with interactive examples.
What are Integers?
Integers are whole numbers: positive numbers (1, 2, 3 ...), zero (0) and negative numbers (-1, -2, -3 ...). They represent counts, positions and changes (like gain or loss). Middle school focuses on adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing integers — plus plotting them on the number line.
- Positive: greater than zero (include 1, 2, 3...).
- Negative: less than zero (shown with a minus sign. include -1, -2, 3).
- Zero: neither positive nor negative; it's the middle point (0).
Rules & Quick Tricks
- Adding same signs: add the absolute values, keep the sign. e.g., 3 + 5 = 8; -3 + -5 = -8.
- Adding opposite signs: subtract smaller absolute value from larger, keep sign of larger. e.g., 7 + -4 = 3.
- Subtracting: change subtraction to addition of the opposite: a − b = a + (−b).
- Multiplying / Dividing: same signs give positive result; different signs give negative result.
Tip: Use the number line to see moves: move right for positive, left for negative.
Interactive Number Line
Practice & Quick Checks
Click "New Problem"
Examples
- 7 + (−12) = −5
- −3 − (−8) = 5
- −6 + 9 = 3
More practice ideas
- Use real-life contexts: temperature changes, bank balances, elevation above/below sea level.
- Try sequences of operations and check using the number line.