Signed Integers (+, โ, ร, รท) Practice Problems & Negative Rules
Mastering positive and negative integer arithmetic is the crucial foundation for middle school algebra and Cartesian coordinate graphing.
๐ง Core Problem-Solving Strategies
โ Minus a Minus Becomes a Plus
Subtracting a negative number is identical to adding a positive: 7 โ (โ4) = 7 + 4 = 11.
โ๏ธ Multiplication & Division Sign Matrix
Same signs give Positive (+ ร + = +, โ ร โ = +). Different signs give Negative (+ ร โ = โ).
๐ก๏ธ Temperature / Elevator Number Line Intuition
Adding positive moves UP / RIGHT. Adding negative moves DOWN / LEFT.
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a negative times a negative equal a positive?
A negative represents an opposite direction. Reversing direction twice brings you back to the positive direction.
How do you add integers with different signs in your head?
Subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger absolute value, and keep the sign of the larger number: โ9 + 4 โ 9 โ 4 = 5 with negative sign โ โ5.
Continue Learning & Practicing
Reinforce your understanding with printable worksheets, step-by-step guides, calculators, and speed games: