In this section, you will learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide integers. You will be invited to try our quizmasters at the end of each lesson.

There are three appealing ways to understand how to add integers. We can use movement, temperature and money. Lastly, we will take a look at the rules for addition.

• Movement

  You are probably familiar with a number line (see Figure 1). Traditionally, zero is placed in the center. Positive numbers extend to the right of zero and negative numbers extend to the left of zero. In order to add positive and negative integers, we will imagine that we are moving along a number line.

  Figure 1

  ex 1: If asked to add 4 and 3, we would start by moving to the number 4 on the number line -- exactly four units to the right of zero. Then we would move three units to the right. Since we landed up seven units to the right of zero as a result of these movements, the answer must be 7.

  ex 2: If asked to add 8 and -2, we would start by moving eight units to the right of zero. Then we would move two units left from there because negative numbers make us move to the left side of the number line. Since our last position is six units to the right of zero, the answer is 6.

  ex 3: If asked to add -13 and 4, we start by moving thirteen units to the left of zero. Then we move four units to the right. Since we land up nine units to the left of zero, the answer is -9.

  ex 4: If asked to add -6 and -5, first move six units to the left of zero. Then move five units further left. Since we are a total of eleven units left of zero, the answer is -11.

• Temperature

  The temperature model for adding integers is exactly the same as the movement model because most thermometers are really number lines that stand upright. The numbers can be thought of as temperature changes. Positive numbers make the temperature indicator rise. Negative numbers make the temperature indicator fall.

  Adding two positive temperatures will result in a positive temperature, similar to example 1 above. Adding two negative temperatures will result in a negative temperature, similar to example 4 above.

  Examples 2 and 3 can be understood in a different way by imagining a battle between two temperatures. When we added 8 and -2 in example 2, there was more positive temperature than negative temperature which would explain the result -- positive 6. In example 3 there was more negative temperature than positive. That will explain why the answer is negative.

• Money

  It can be helpful to think of money when doing integer addition. The positive numbers represent income while the negative numbers represent debt.

  When adding two incomes, like example 1 above, the answer has to be a bigger income and the result is a positive number. When adding two debts, like example 4 above, the answer has to be another debt. In fact, accountants would call it 'falling deeper in debt.'

  Similar to our temperature battle between warm temperatures and cold temperatures, adding positive and negative numbers is like comparing income to debt. If there is more income than debt the answer will be positive, like example 2. If there is more debt than income the answer will be negative, like example 3.

• Rules for Addition

  Below is a table to help condense the rules for addition. Note the second and third rows of the body of the table. Those answers are dependant upon the original values.

Rules for Addition
Positive + Positive	Positive
Positive + Negative	Depends
Negative + Positive	Depends
Negative + Negative	Negative

• Quizmaster: Adding Integers

Instead of coming up with a new method for explaining how to subtract integers, let us borrow from the explanation above under the addition of integers. We will learn how to transform subtraction problems into addition problems.

The technique for changing subtraction problems into addition problems is extremely mechanical. There are two steps:

1. Change the subtraction sign into an addition sign.
2. Take the opposite of the number that immediately follows the newly placed addition sign.

Let's take a look at the problem 3 - 4. According to step #1, we have to change the subtraction sign to an addition sign. According to step #2, we have to take the opposite of 4, which is -4. Therefore the problem becomes 3 + (-4). Using the rules for addition, the answer is -1.

Here is another problem: -2 - 8. Switching the problem to an addition problem, it becomes -2 + (-8), which is equal to -10.

6 - (-20) is equal to 6 + 20, which is 26.
-7 - (-1) is the same as -7 + 1, which is -6.

• Quizmaster: Subtracting Integers

The best place to start with multiplication, is with the rules:

Rules for Multiplication
Positive x Positive	Positive
Positive x Negative	Negative
Negative x Positive	Negative
Negative x Negative	Positive

Now we have to understand the rules. The first rule is the easiest to remember because we learned it so long ago. Working with positive numbers under multiplication always yeilds positive answers. However, the last three rules are a bit more challenging to understand.

The second and third steps can be explained simultaneously. This is because numbers can be multiplied in any order. -3 x 7 has the same answer as 7 x -3, which is always true for all integers. [This property has a special name in mathematics. It is called the commutative property.] For us, this means the second and third rules are equivalent.

One reason why mathematics has so much value is because its usefulness is derived from its consistency. It behaves with strict regularity. This is no accident, mind you. This is quite purposeful.

Keeping this in mind, let's take a look at Figure 2 below. There is a definite pattern to the problems in the table. The first number in each row remains constant but the second number is decreasing by one, each step down the table. Consequently, the answer is changing. The answers have a definite pattern as we go down the table too. It should be relatively easy to determine the two missing answers.

If you understand the pattern, you will see that the first unanswered problem is -2 and the second unanswered problem is -4. This should provide some meaning why a negative number is always the result when multiplying two numbers of opposite sign.

Likewise, lets turn our attention to Figure 3 below. This table has a pattern similar to the one in Figure 1. However, this table begins with a negative number. As we scan the list of answers, we can see that the last two problems remain unanswered.

With a little concentration, we can see that the two unanswered questions must have positive answers to maintain mathematical consistency. This should help us understand why a positive number is always the result of multiplying two numbers of the same sign.

Figure 2 2 x 3 = 6 2 x 2 = 4 2 x 1 = 2 2 x 0 = 0 2 x -1 = ? 2 x -2 = ?

Figure 3 -8 x 3 = -24 -8 x 2 = -16 -8 x 1 = -8 -8 x 0 = 0 -8 x -1 = ? -8 x -2 = ?

Here are some examples:

4 x -8 = -32,
-6 x 8 = -48, and
-20 x -3 = 60.

• Quizmaster: Multiplying Integers

The rules for division are exactly the same as those for multiplication. If we were to take the rules for multiplication and change the multiplication signs to division signs, we would have an accurate set of rules for division.

For example, -9 ÷ 3 = -3.
20 ÷ (-4) is equal to -5.
-18 ÷ (-3) is equal to 6.

• Quizmaster: Dividing Integers

After reading the lessons, try our quizmasters. MATHguide has developed numerous testing and checking programs to solidify these skills:

• Adding Integers
• Subtracting Integers
• Multiplying Integers
• Dividing Integers