Subtracting Integers

Subtracting Integers 

Rule for subtracting integers: add the opposite or changing the second integer of the equation and adding.

Today, we have 3 examples given to help you understand what to do.

#1: (+9) - (-5)

#2: (-7) - (+5)

#3: (-6) - (-4)

Question #1: (+9) - (-5) = ?

You have 9 positive chips.

 You can't take away 5 negative chips, so you need to make 5 'zero pairs'.

 After making 5 zero pairs, take the 5 negative chips away.

In the end, the answer will be (+14).

(+9) - (-5) = (+14)

Question #2: (-7) - (+5) = ?

You have 7 negative chips.

Now make 5 'zero pairs'.

With that, take away the 5 positive chips to get the answer.

Therefore, the answer is (-12).

(-7) - (+5) = (-12)

Question #3: (-6) - (-4) = ?

You have 6 negative chips.

But instead of making 'zero pairs', you just simply take away 4 negative chips.

By doing so, you now have the answer (-2).

(-6) - (-4) = (-2)

Now, you have turned into an 'Integer Master' for subtracting!

Adding Integers

                                                                    Adding Integers

Adding integers is very easy. Lets say you have +5, and you want to add it with +3, it is just the same as 5+3. By the way, the answer is 8. Here's another one. (+8) + (+9). It is the same thing. Just add and there is your answer. See, I think you get the idea. Now lets do something else. Lets say, you have 9+(-5).  Now that's something different. First of all, it isn't as hard as it looks. You find your answer by doing what's called a I think zero pair. A zero pair is a pair that means nothing. Now go look at the example down below. 


Examples: 

(+5) + (+3)= +8


(+4) + (+2)= +6


A Zero Pair
+
-
(+9)+(-5)= +4 

Here's how you do this question. First, find out how many positives and negatives you have. In this case, you have 9 positives and 5 negatives. So you would have something like this.

+ + + + + + + + +
-  -  -  -  -

The first 5 cancel out because they are a zero pair, and a zero pair is something that cancels out or just means nothing. So in the end, you count up how many positives you have left. The answer to this question is +4. Have fun learning and doing adding with integers!