📏 Integers and Number Lines

Working with positive and negative numbers

🎯 What You'll Learn

Understand what integers are (positive, negative, and zero)
Use number lines to visualize integer operations
Add and subtract integers correctly
Compare and order integers using inequality symbols

🌟 Why It Matters

We use integers to track temperature, money owed or saved, floors in a building, or scoring in games. Understanding positive and negative numbers helps us describe real-world situations accurately.

📏 Interactive Number Line

Plot a number:

Click "Plot" to place a number on the number line, or try a random integer!

🧮 Integer Calculator

Integer Addition

+ =

Integer Subtraction

− =

Compare Integers

🎮 Integer Comparison Game

Which is greater: -3 or -7?

💪 Practice Exercises

1. What is -6 + 2?

2. What is 4 - 9?

3. What is the opposite of -7?

4. Which is smaller: -8 or -3?

⚠️ Watch Out For These Common Mistakes!

❌ Moving the wrong direction on the number line

Wrong: Moving right when subtracting positive numbers

✅ Right: Always move left when subtracting

Addition moves right, subtraction moves left - stay consistent!

❌ Thinking negatives are bigger than positives

Wrong: Believing -10 > 5

✅ Right: -10 < 5 (negative numbers are smaller)

The further left on the number line, the smaller the number!

❌ Confusing temperature and elevation context

Wrong: Thinking -5°C is warmer than -10°C because |-5| < |-10|

✅ Right: -5°C is warmer because -5 > -10

In real contexts, closer to zero often means "better" or "warmer"!

✨ Quick Summary

Integer Navigation: Integers go both ways—positive and negative. Use number lines to stay accurate!

✅ Number line direction: Left = smaller, Right = bigger
✅ Negative comparison: -2 > -5 because -2 is closer to zero
✅ Addition rule: Always move right on the number line
✅ Subtraction rule: Always move left on the number line
✅ Real-world context: Temperature, elevation, bank balances

Remember: The number line is your best friend for understanding negative numbers! 📏