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The rules and properties of integers and how to use them
Author
Tess Loucka
Published
November 1, 2023
The rules and properties of integers and how to use them
Author
Tess Loucka
Published
Nov 1, 2023
The rules and properties of integers and how to use them
Author
Tess Loucka
Published
Nov 1, 2023
Key takeaways
Table of contents
You might not realize it, but you use integers every single day! When you’re counting up your allowance, checking how many more pages are left in a chapter you’re reading, or even seeing how far you have to scroll through the TV channels to get to the program you want to watch, you’re using integers.
To put it simply, an integer is a whole number. In school, you work with whole numbers all the time. But what makes integers a little more complicated is that they can also be negative numbers.
There are many rules and properties to remember when working with integers, but first, what is an integer?
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To visualize integers, place them on a number line. A number line is a horizontal line that goes on for infinity on both sides. Numbers are placed on the line in relation to each other using equally distanced lines and spaces.
When setting up a number line, 0 is placed in the middle. As numbers get bigger, they move to the right. Smaller numbers go to the left.
When placing integers on a number line, you often start off with an integer set. Integer sets are lists of integers notated as Z = {list of integers}
Here’s an example integer set: Z = {-5, -2, 1, 3, 6}
As you get into more advanced integer graphing, you may come across the term greatest integer function. The greatest integer function is denoted as [x] = y. In this function, y is the largest integer that is less than or equal to x. Think of it as rounding down.
For example, [3.4] = 3 because 3 is the largest integer less than or equal to 3.4
[-3.4] = -4 because -4 is the greatest integer less than or equal to -3.4 (remember to move left on the number line!)
So, what is an integer operation and how do you use integers in math problems?
Integer operations are basic operations that can be done using integers. To complete these operations, you’ll need to use the integers’ absolute values. The absolute value of an integer is the number value, or the distance away from zero. As a result, absolute value will always be positive.
So, 2 would be the absolute value of both |2| and |-2|. The absolute value of both |-43| and |43| is 43.
Adding integers of the same sign (positive or negative) will always result in an integer with that same sign.
(+3) + (+8) = +11
(-3) + (-8) = -11
Adding integers with different signs will result in an integer with the same sign as the number with the larger absolute value. To solve these problems, subtract the integers’ absolute values and use the sign of the number with the larger absolute value.
(+3) + (-8) becomes |8| – |3|, which is 5. The 8 is larger than the 3, and it is negative, so 5 becomes -5.
(-3) + (+8) also becomes |8| – |3|, which is 5. The 8 is larger, but it is positive, so 5 becomes +5.
When subtracting integers, change the sign of the second number and add the numbers together.
(+3) – (+8) becomes (+3) + (-8) = -5
(-3) – (-8) becomes (-3) + (+8) = 5
When multiplying integers, the result will be positive if both integers have the same sign. That’s true whether the sign is positive or negative. The result will be negative if both integers have different signs.
(+3) x (+8) = +24
(+3) x (-8) = -24
The rules for dividing integers are the same as they are for multiplying them. If both integers have the same sign, the result is positive. If both integers have different signs, the result is negative.
(+10) ÷ (+5) = +2
(+10) ÷ (-5) = -2
If there are not enough integers examples throughout this article for you, you can find countless more integer practice problems and help with online resources. Math apps and websites can provide you with more definitions, examples, and practice problems until you feel confident with this topic.
Want more practice with integers? DoodleMath is an award-winning math app that’s proven to double a child’s rate of progression with just 10 minutes of use a day!
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According to this property, when you add, subtract, or multiply two integers together, the result will always be an integer. Dividing any two integers does NOT always result in an integer.
Ex. 8 + 4 = 12
8 – 4 = 4
8 x 4 = 32
8 / 4 = 2, but 4 / 8 = ½ or .5 (fractions and decimals are not integers)
According to this property, rearranging the grouping of integers does not change the result when performing addition or multiplication.
In other words, a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c
Similarly, a x (b x c) = (a x b) x c
The placement of the parentheses doesn’t matter. The answer will always be the same. However, this is not true for subtraction or division.
Similar to the Associative Property, this property states that the order of integers in an addition or multiplication problem does not affect the result.
So, a + b = b + a and a x b = b x a
This property states that adding two of the same integers together with different signs always results in 0.
Ex. 2 + (-2) = 0. In this case, -2 is the additive inverse of 2.
(-2) + 2 = 0. In this case, 2 is the additive inverse of -2.
An additive inverse is any integer that, when added to another integer, results in 0.
This property states that when using the form a (b + c), the integer in place of “a” can be distributed to “b” and “c” to become (a x b) + (a x c).
Ex. 3 (2 + 8) = (3 x 2) + (3 x 8) = (6)(24) = 30
This property states that any given number multiplied by itself over 1 is equal to 1. This is written as a + a/1 = 1.
Ex. 5 x 5/1 = 1
This property states that any integer plus 0 is equal to the integer itself, while any integer multiplied by 1 is equal to the integer itself.
Ex. 8 + 0 = 8
8 x 1 = 8
Click on the boxes below to see the answers!
Answer: +12
When subtracting two integers, change the sign of the second integer, and add the integers together. (+9) – (-3) becomes (+9) + (+3), which is equal to +12 or 12.
Answer: +4
When dividing two integers with the same sign, the result will always be positive. Three goes into 12 four times, so the answer is +4 or 4.
Answer: +1
Solve what is within the parentheses first. Multiplying two integers with different signs results in a negative number. So, (+2) x (-3) equals -6. Now, add +7 to -6 to get +1 or 1.
Integers are any positive or negative numbers, including zero. Integers are not fractions or decimals.
Yes, zero is an integer.
Consecutive integers are integers that follow each other in order from smallest to largest by 1.
Positive integers and 0 are whole numbers. Negative integers are not.
Yes, all integers are rational numbers because when turned into fractions, they have a denominator of 1.
Decimals are not integers. Integers must be round numbers.
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Lesson credits
Tess Loucka
Tess Loucka discovered her passion for writing in high school and has not stopped writing since. Combined with her love of numbers, she became a math and English tutor, focusing on middle- and high-school-level topics. Since graduating from Hunter College, her goal has been to use her writing to spread knowledge and the joy of learning to readers of all ages.
Tess Loucka
Tess Loucka discovered her passion for writing in high school and has not stopped writing since. Combined with her love of numbers, she became a math and English tutor, focusing on middle- and high-school-level topics. Since graduating from Hunter College, her goal has been to use her writing to spread knowledge and the joy of learning to readers of all ages.
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