Integers for the Test

All your life you have been adding and subtracting. Until now it has been positive numbers, as society didn't want to burden you with learning about negative numbers when you were otherwise busy with learning to walk and go to the bathroom somewhere other than in your pants. But now you are ready.

It doesn't matter where you start on the number line (positive or negative) it matters which way you move on the number line--left or right.

You move right in the following ways:

1. Adding a Positive. That makes sense right? If I give you something positive, that positive--no two ways about it. This is the way you have been adding since kindergarten.                                              3 + 3 = +3 + (+3) = 6
2. Subtracting a Negative. That makes sense too right? Right? If I subtract a negative from my life, my life just doesn't stay the same right? It becomes more positive!   3 - (-3) = 6

You move left in the following ways:

1. Subtracting a Positive: Again, eminently sensible. If I take away a positive, you lose. Your life moves to the left.  6 - (+3) = 3 (What you learned was 6 - 3. What it really is is 6 - (+3). The positive is understood). So far so good.
2. Adding a Negative: This makes sense too right? You know it does! If I add a negative, your life moves to the left, toward negative territory. 6 + (-3) = 3.

Now, go to the Math is Fun Page and study!

Here's a Integers Jeopardy game you can play for fun and learning.

You'll notice that the Jeopardy game requires a knowledge of multiplying and dividing integers. Technically this is a grade 8 outcome, but it's not illegal for you to learn how to do it, so here's the link to extra learning.