Directed Numbers and the Number Line

Book 1A Chapter 1 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

 Warm-up Exercise

1. Write down the greater number in each of the following pairs of numbers.
(a) 4, 11 (b) 0.5, 0.45
3 13 1
(c) , (d) , 0.16
4 15 6

2. Evaluate each of the following.

2 5 2 5
(a) + (b) +
3 6 7 8
3 1 9 4
(c) − (d) −
5 2 11 9

3. Evaluate each of the following.

3 4 6 5 21 3
(a)   (b)  
8 5 7 7 40 4
10 4 2 5 34 1
(c)   (d)  4
11 9 33 12 25 4

4. Evaluate each of the following.

(a) 23 + 3  5 − 16 (b) (36 − 17)  2 − 25
(c) (12 + 9)  (20 − 17) (d) [(8 + 3)  16] − 110

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Book 1A Chapter 1

1.1 Concept of Directed Numbers

Demonstration 1
Assume that +$10 means a profit of $10 in a store. 1. Assume that +5 steps means Benny walks 5
(a) Express each of the following using a directed steps upstairs.
number. (a) Express each of the following using a
(i) A profit of $100. directed number.
(ii) A loss of $50. (i) Benny walks 8 steps upstairs.
(b) What is the meaning of –$20? (ii) Benny walks 4 steps downstairs.
Solution (b) What is the meaning of –10 steps?
(a) (i) +$100
(ii) –$50
(b) –$20 means a loss of $20.

Demonstration 2
Write down the numbers +6, –1, +3, –3 on the 2. Write down the numbers +5, –2, +4, –4 on the
number line below. number line below.

0 +1 0 +1

Solution

–3 –1 0 +1 +3 +6

Demonstration 3
In each of the following, compare the values of the 3. In each of the following, compare the values
directed numbers and use the inequality sign ‘<’ or of the directed numbers and use the inequality
‘>’ to show their relationship. sign ‘<’ or ‘>’ to show their relationship.
(a) +5, –6 (b) –9, –3 (a) –4, +3 (b) –2, –6
Solution

(a) +5 > –6
(b) –9 < –3

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

Demonstration 4
In each of the following, arrange the numbers in 4. In each of the following, arrange the numbers
ascending order. in ascending order.
(a) –5, +1, –2, +8 (a) –3, +10, –1, +3
(b) –0.5, +1.2, –3.5, +0.3 (b) –0.8, +0.1, –2.1, +1.3
Solution

(a) Numbers arranged in ascending order:

–5, –2, +1, +8
(b) Numbers arranged in ascending order:
–3.5, –0.5, +0.3, +1.2

Demonstration 5
In each of the following, arrange the numbers in 5. In each of the following, arrange the numbers
descending order. in descending order.
(a) –7, 0, –11, +6 (a) –13, –1, 0, +1
(b) –3.4, +5.2, –2.6, +3.3 (b) –0.5, +1.2, –3.5, +0.3
Solution

(a) Numbers arranged in descending order:

+6, 0, –7, –11
(b) Numbers arranged in descending order:
+5.2, +3.3, –2.6, –3.4

6. Write down the opposite number of each of the following numbers.

(a) +8 (b) –32

7. Complete the following table.

2
Number –7 +0.5 – +11.4
3

Opposite number

8. Consider the following numbers.

3
–13, 2, 0.03, – , 0, –405
5
(a) Which of them is / are positive numbers?
(b) Which of them is / are negative numbers?
(c) Which of them is / are neither positive nor negative?

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Book 1A Chapter 1

9. Assume that +20 m means 20 m above the sea level.

(a) Express each of the following using a directed number.
(i) 8 m above the sea level.
(ii) 12 m below the sea level.
(b) What is the meaning of –25 m?

10. Suppose that +$100 means an income of $100.

(a) Express each of the following using a directed number.
(i) An expenditure of $180.
(ii) An income of $250.
(b) What is the meaning of –$300?

11. Assume that +31C means 31C above 0C.

(a) Express each of the following using a directed number.
(i) 15C below 0C.
(ii) 57C above 0C.
(b) What is the meaning of –6C?

12. Suppose that +2 marks means addition of 2 marks in a test.

(a) Express each of the following using a directed number.
(i) Addition of 4 marks.
(ii) Deduction of 10 marks.
(b) What is the meaning of –5 marks?

13. Find the directed numbers represented by the letters on the number line below.
A B C D
× × × ×
0 +1

14. Find the directed numbers represented by the letters on the vertical number line shown.
× A

+1
0

× B

× C

× D

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

15. Write down the numbers +3, –10, +7 and –4 on the number line below.

0 +1

16. Write down the numbers +3.5, –4, +3 and –1.5 on the number line below.

0 +1

17. In each of the following, compare the values of the directed numbers and use the inequality sign ‘<’ or
‘>’ to show their relationship.
(a) +5, +12 (b) +6.2, –1.4
(c) –28, +25 (d) –3.7, –3.6

18. Put an appropriate inequality sign (< or >) on each line.

(a) –5 ____ +6 (b) +35 ____ –24
3 3
(c) –1.7 ____ –1.8 (d) – ____ –
4 5

19. In each of the following, arrange the numbers in ascending order.

(a) –15, +17, –26, +9
(b) –0.25, +0.28, –2.3, +1.06

20. In each of the following, arrange the numbers in descending order.

(a) –9, 0, –10, +13
(b) –5.1, +5.5, –5, +5.35

21. In each of the following, find the smallest and the greatest numbers.
(a) –11, +10, –13, +13, –15
(b) –4.8, +6, –6.9, –7, +0.1

22. Suppose that +2 people means 2 people get on a bus.

(a) Express each of the following using a directed number.
(i) 4 people get on the bus.
(ii) 3 people get off the bus.
(b) What are the meanings of ‘–5 people’ and ‘+7 people’?

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Book 1A Chapter 1

23. The mean mark of a mathematics test is 68. The following are the results of 5 students:

Tommy Linda Henry Eva Wilson

5 marks below 12 marks above 20 marks above 8 marks below 23 marks below
the mean mark the mean mark the mean mark the mean mark the mean mark
(a) Suppose +1 mark means 1 mark above the mean mark, use a directed number to express the mark
of each student.
(b) Which student gets the highest mark?
(c) Which student gets the lowest mark?

24. Write down all integers between the following pairs of numbers.
(a) –2, +3 (b) –6, –1

25. Consider the following number line.

A B C D
× × × ×
0

(a) Which letter represents the smallest number?

(b) Which letter represents the greatest number?
(c) Suggest two sets of possible values of A, B, C and D.

26. The figure below shows the floor plan of a hotel.

5/F
4/F
3/F
2/F
1/F
G/F
B1/F
B2/F
B3/F

(a) Assume that floor +1 means the first floor above the ground floor, express each floor by a directed
number.
(b) If Sophia enters a lift on floor –2 and travels up by 3 floors, which floor will she reach?
(c) If Eric enters a lift on floor +3 and travels down by 5 floors, which floor will he reach?

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

27. On a certain day, Hong Kong is hotter than Beijing, Tokyo is cooler than Beijing and
Melbourne is hotter than Hong Kong.
(a) Arrange the temperatures of the cities in descending order.
(b) Assume that the temperature in Beijing is 0C on that day. According to (a), suggest a
possible set of temperatures of Hong Kong, Tokyo and Melbourne on that day.

28. Jerry finished 5 tasks in a game show. The harder the task, the longer time he spent. On
average, he spent 60 seconds on finishing each task. Assume that +1 second means he spent 1
second more than the average time. The table below shows the times taken to finish the tasks.
Task Description Time taken
1 Stand a coin on its rim using mouth only. –35 seconds
Throw darts to hit a 3 × 3 square dartboard, which is kept at a
2 distance of 4 m from the contestant, so that 3 darts land in –15 seconds
different squares in a row or in a column.
3 Use a pair of chopsticks to pile up 5 lipsticks. +20 seconds
Blow 5 marbles into a hole which is kept at a distance of 1 m
4 +50 seconds
from the contestant.
Shake off 8 ping pong balls out of an empty tissue box that is
5 –20 seconds
attached to the contestant’s waist without using hands.
List the tasks in the order of increasing hardness.

Multiple Choice Questions

29. Which of the following is greater than –2.5?
A. –3
8
B. –
3
C. –2.6
4
D. –
3

30. Which of the following is the greatest?

C B A D
× × × ×
0

A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D

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Book 1A Chapter 1

31. Arrange the following numbers in ascending order.

–9, 6, –15, –2, 11
A. –15, –9, –2, 6, 11
B. –15, 11, –9, 6, –2
C. –2, 6, –9, 11, –15
D. 11, 6, –2, –9, –15

32. Arrange the following numbers in descending order.

7 3
–0.5, 1.2, – , –2.7,
2 2
7 3
A. – , –2.7, –0.5, 1.2,
2 2
7 3
B. – , –2.7, , 1.2, –0.5
2 2
3 7
C. –0.5, 1.2, –2.7, ,–
2 2
3 7
D. , 1.2, –0.5, –2.7, –
2 2

33. Which of the following is true?

A. 0 < –2
1 1
B. – >–
2 3
C. –3 < –1
D. 8 > 13

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

1.2 Addition and Subtraction of Directed Numbers

Demonstration 1
Evaluate each of the following with the help of a 1. Evaluate each of the following with the help of
number line. a number line.
(a) (–5) + (+6) (b) (–7) – (+2) (a) (–8) + (+3) (b) (–1) – (+4)
Solution

(a) +(+6)

–5 +1

(–5) + (+6) = +1

(b)
– (+2)

–9 –7

(–7) – (+2) = –9

Demonstration 2
Evaluate each of the following with the help of a 2. Evaluate each of the following with the help of
number line. a number line.
(a) (–3) + (–4) (b) (–9) – (–6) (a) (–10) + (–2) (b) (–5) – (–7)
Solution

(a) +(–4)

–7 –3

(–3) + (–4) = –7

(b) – (–6)

–9 –3

(–9) – (–6) = –3

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Book 1A Chapter 1

Demonstration 3
Evaluate each of the following. 3. Evaluate each of the following.
(a) (–15) + (+19) (b) (–21) – (+7) (a) (–22) + (+6) (b) (–4) – (+25)
Solution

(a) (–15) + (+19)

= –15 + 19
= +(19 – 15)
=4
(b) (–21) – (+7)
= –21 – 7
= –(21 + 7)
= –28

Demonstration 4
Evaluate each of the following. 4. Evaluate each of the following.
(a) (–8) + (–13) (b) (–17) – (–20) (a) (–9) + (–16) (b) (–12) – (–24)
Solution

(a) (–8) + (–13)

= –8 – 13
= –(8 + 13)
= –21
(b) (–17) – (–20)
= –17 + 20
= +(20 – 17)
=3

Demonstration 5
On a day in winter, the lowest temperature and the 5. Jenny’s Octopus has a balance of $30. She
highest temperature at the top of a mountain buys a box of chocolate at $50 by her Octopus.
is –2C and 3C, find the difference between the What is the balance on her Octopus?
highest and lowest temperatures.
Solution

Difference between the highest and lowest

temperatures
= [3 – (–2)] C
= (3 + 2) C
= 5 C

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

Evaluate each of the following with the help of a number line. (6 – 10)
6. (a) (+7) + (+8) (b) (+9) + (+3)

7. (a) (+2) – (+5) (b) (+11) – (+4)

8. (a) (–6) + (+6) (b) (–8) + (+1)

9. (a) (+5) – (–4) (b) (+7) – (–2)

10. (a) (+2) – (+4) – (–5) (b) (–9) + (–8) – (–1)

Evaluate each of the following. (11 – 25)

11. (a) (+13) + (+10) (b) (+5) + (+21)

12. (a) (+18) – (+9) (b) (+7) – (+16)

13. (a) (–25) + (+25) (b) (–28) + (+19)

14. (a) (–20) – (+11) (b) (–29) – (+2)

15. (a) (+6) + (–17) (b) (+29) + (–26)

16. (a) (+12) – (–4) (b) (+31) – (–14)

17. (a) (–15) + (–24) (b) (–34) + (–16)

18. (a) (–21) – (–30) (b) (–27) – (–22)

19. (a) (–1.2) + (–5.3) (b) (–0.7) + (–2.5)

20. (a) (–14.2) – (+8.9) (b) (–13.3) – (+26.7)

 5  1  2  3
21. (a)  −  −  −  (b)  −  −  − 
 3  2  7  4

 4  6  1   5
22. (a)  +  −  −  (b)  +  −  − 
 5  7  11   9 

23. (a) (–21) – (+45) – (–13) (b) (–11) + (–36) – (+16)

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Book 1A Chapter 1

24. (a) (+2.6) – (–10.8) – (+5.4) (b) (–1.7) – (+16.9) + (+27.4)

25. (a) (–15) + [(+31) – (–9)] (b) [(–27) – (+18)] – (–42)

26. Kelly lost $55 yesterday and her parents give her $100 today, what is her total money balance on these
two days?

27. Larry sold two concert tickets of different prices. One sold with a profit of $250 and one with a loss of
$310, find the total profit or loss.

28. Peter’s weight increased by 1.5 kg last month. He had a serious flu this month and his weight decreased
by 2.3 kg. Is his weight right now greater or smaller than his weight two months ago? By how many
kg?

29. In a cooking contest, the three judges gave Carol 5 marks, –2 marks and –6 marks respectively. Find the
total marks she got.

30. The temperature of a city is –2C in the morning, and then it increases by 6C in the afternoon and
decreases by 10C at night. Find the temperature of the city at night.

31. A publishing company sold a textbook to a book shop $20 higher than the cost, and then the book shop
sold each textbook to a school with a profit of $25. The school sponsored each poor student for $50 to
buy the textbook. Did the student pay higher or lower than the cost? By how much?

32. Mavis goes to school by several means of transport, she will not be late if the time spent on each means
of transport is under normal conditions. The following shows the time differences (+1 means 1 min
faster than normal) of the means spent from normal on a certain day. Determine whether she will be late
to school that day.

Means of transport LRT MTR Bus

Time difference
–6 +2 –10
from normal (min)

33. The following shows the heights of 4 students:

Amy is 20 cm shorter than John.
John is 5 cm taller than Cathy.
Cathy is 9 cm shorter than Jimmy.
(a) Which of them is tallest?
(b) If John’s height of is 170 cm, find Jimmy’s height.

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

34. The following is the time differences between Hong Kong and some cities.

City Paris Osaka Singapore London

Time difference (h) –7 +1 0 –8
(a) By how many hours is the local time in Paris ahead of / behind the local time in Osaka?
(b) By how many hours is the local time in Singapore ahead of / behind the local time in London?
(c) Kelvin departs from Hong Kong at 8:30 am and takes a flight to Paris for 18 hours. What will the
local time be when he arrives at Paris?

Multiple Choice Questions

35. In the figure, A and B are two directed numbers represented on a number line.
A B
× ×
0

Which of the results of following expressions must be a positive number?

A. A + B
B. A – B
C. –(A + B)
D. –(B – A)

36. (–26) + [(+8) – (–19)] =

A. –37.
B. –15.
C. 1.
D. 53.

37. Which of the following gives the smallest result?

A. (+25) + (–11)
B. (–64) – (–9)
C. (–10) – (+17)
D. (–5) + (–53)

38. Michelle’s Octopus had a balance of –$8. She then added $50 to her Octopus and has just bought a
lunch box of $27. Which of the following will make the balance on her Octopus negative if she buys it
now?
A. Chicken wings priced at $12
B. Noodles priced at $14
C. An ice-cream priced at $15
D. A Comic priced at $17

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Book 1A Chapter 1

1.3 Multiplication and Division of Directed numbers

Demonstration 1
Evaluate each of the following. 1. Evaluate each of the following.
(a) (–5)  (+8) (b) (–4)  (–11) (a) (+7)  (–2) (b) (–6)  (–9)
Solution

(a) (–5)  (+8)

= –(5  8)
= –40
(b) (–4)  (–11)
= +(4  11)
= 44

Demonstration 2
Evaluate each of the following. 2. Evaluate each of the following.
(a) (+65)  (–13) (b) (–96)  (–6) (a) (+72)  (–18) (b) (–64)  (–4)
Solution

(a) (+65)  (–13)

= –(65  13)
= –5
(b) (–96)  (–6)
= +(96  6)
= 16

Demonstration 3 3. Evaluate each of the following.

Evaluate each of the following. (a) (–7)(+4)(–10)
(a) (+8)(+2)(–11) (b) (+180)  (–5)  (–9)
(b) (–114)  (+19)  (–3)
Solution

(a) (+8)(+2)(–11)
= +(8  2)(–11)
= (+16)(–11)
= –(16  11)
= –176
(b) (–114)  (+19)  (–3)
= –(114  19)  (–3)
= (–6)  (–3)
= +(6  3)
=2

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

Demonstration 4
Evaluate each of the following. 4. Evaluate each of the following.
(a) 26 – (+98)  (–7) (a) –11 + (–104)  (+8)
(b) (–3)(+14) + (–9)(–5) (b) (–21)(–2) + (+16)(–4)
Solution

(a) 26 – (+98)  (–7)

= 26 – [–(98  7)]
= 26 – (–14)
= 26 + 14
= 40
(b) (–3)(+14) + (–9)(–5)
= –(3  14) + [+(9  5)]
= –42 + 45
=3

Evaluate each of the following. (5 – 8)

5. (a) (+3)  (–9) (b) (+25)  (–6)

6. (a) (–5)  (+17) (b) (–18)  (+3)

7. (a) (–4)  (–13) (b) (–2)  (–36)

8. (a) (–12)  (–8) (b) (–9)  (–19)

Evaluate each of the following. (9 – 12)

9. (a) (–84)  (+6) (b) (–325)  (+13)

10. (a) (+208)  (–8) (b) (+435)  (–29)

11. (a) (–171)  (–3) (b) (–468)  (–18)

12. (a) (–253)  (–11) (b) (–578)  (–34)

Evaluate each of the following. (13 – 16)

13. (a) 13 – (+98)  (–7) (b) (–4)(–7) + (+15)(–3)

14. (a) 21 + (–105)  (–15) (b) (+6)(–14) – (–8)(+5)

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Book 1A Chapter 1

15. (a) –44 + (+198)  (–18) (b) (–12)(+9) – (–4)(–11)

16. (a) –9 – (+288)  (+12) (b) (–22)(+3) + (–5)(–19)

Evaluate each of the following. (17 – 20)

17. (a) (+6)(+15)(–8) (b) (–7)(+13)(–4)

18. (a) (+2)(+17)(–3) (b) (+18)(–4)(–9)

19. (a) (–270)  (+9)  (–5) (b) (–180)  (+15)  (+3)

20. (a) (–248)  [(–62)  (–2)] (b) (+198)  [(+108)  (–12)]

Evaluate each of the following. (21 – 24)

 3   8   12   1   15   36 
21. (a)  −    −    −  (b)  +    −    + 
 2  7  5   4  8   5 

22. (a) (+18)  (–6) – (–54)  (+9) (b) (–42)  (+14) + (–69)  (–3)

( −5) + ( −7)(+21) (−6)(+14) − (−12)

23. (a) (b)
(+8) (−2)(+4)

24. (a) (–3.5)[(–2.8) – (–2.2)] (b) [(+21.6) + (–9.3)]  [(+0.7) – (–3.4)]

25. If the product of –6 and +12 is divided by –8, find the result.

26. If the product of –7 and +5 is added to the quotient of –18 divided by –2, find the result.

27. If the product of +1.5 and –4 is subtracted from the sum of –13 and +9, find the result.

28. In the game ‘Rock, Paper and Scissors’, Vivian has 4 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws. If 4 points are given
for a win, –2 points for a loss and 1 point for a draw, find the score that Vivian will get.

29. Matthew sold dolls in Lunar New Year fair stalls. At first he sold 19 dolls at a profit of $14 each, then
he decreased the price and sold 27 dolls at a profit of $8 each, and finally he decreased the price again
and sold 31 dolls at a loss of $24 each. What is the overall profit or loss by Matthew?

30. There were 20 questions in a quiz. 5 marks were given for each correct answer and 3 marks were
deducted for each unanswered question or wrong answer. Anna only answered 6 questions correctly.
Find Anna’s score.

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 Directed Numbers and the Number Line

31. Tim has thrown 10 darts and the results are as follows:
–3
Score –3 5 –7 10 5
Number of darts 3 4 2 1 –7
10
Find Tim’s total score.

32. Fanny deposits $5000 in a bank. Then her father deposits $500 into the account and Fanny withdraws
$800 from the account before the end of each month.
(a) How much will remain in the account after 6 months?
(b) How many months later will the account have less than $800?

33. In a lucky draw, a player turns the wheel 3 times, adds up the scores the arrow points to and receives the
prize according to the score.

Score Below 50 50 – 100 Above 100 +10 –50

–10
Prize Coke Popcorn Hot dog
+20
+100
(a) What is the lowest score a player can get? –100
(b) Cecilia turns the wheel 3 times and gets the scores –10, –50 –20 +50
and +20. Which prize will she receive?
(c) Stanley turns the wheel 2 times and gets the scores +100 and
+20. If he wants to receive popcorn as the prize, which score
must he get in the 3rd turn?

Multiple Choice Questions

34. Which of the following gives the smallest result?
A. (+2) × (–11)
B. (–24) × (–5)
C. (–108)  (+4)
D. (–6) + (–39)

35. Which of the following gives a positive result?

A. (–1.2)[(+9.1) – (+2.3)]
B. (+11) × (–7) – (–81)  (+3)
C. (+154)  [(+36)  (–18)]
(−6)(+45) − (−108)
D.
(−3)(+9)

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Book 1A Chapter 1

36. (–5)(+8) – (+6)(–7) =

A. 82.
B. 2.
C. –2.
D. –82.

37. In the figure, A, B and C are three directed numbers represented on a number line.

A B C
× × ×
0
Which of the results of the following expressions are negative?
I. (A – B) × C
II. (B – C)  (A + B)
III. A × B – C
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

38. In a school mathematics competition, 10 points were awarded for each correct answer and 5 points were
deducted for each unanswered question or wrong answer. Team A answered 3 questions correctly and
scored 0 points. How many questions were there that were unanswered or answered wrongly by team
A?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7

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