DIRECTED NUMBERS

The positive and negative numbers are called integers.

They can be shown on a number line.

NEGATIVE NUMBERS POSITIVE NUMBERS

−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 ºC

To find the difference between a temperature of 4 ºC and a temperature of

−3 ºC, you find the gap between these two numbers on the number line.
The difference is 7 ºC.
The number line can be used for adding and subtracting numbers.

Examples
1 Use a number line to work out −3 + 5

−3 + 5 = 2
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

2 Use a number line to work out −1 − 4

−1 − 4 = −5
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Adding and subtracting directed numbers

The rules for adding and subtracting directed numbers are:

Change  3  5 to  3  5  2
Change  3  5 to  3  5  8
Change  3  5 to  3  5  8
Change  3  5 to  3  5  2
Examples
1 Work out 2  4

2  4  2  4

2  4  6
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

2 Work out 1 4

1 4  1 4

1 4  5
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Examples
3 Work out 1 3

1 3  1 3

1 3  4
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

4 Work out 2  6

2  6  2  6

2  6  4
−6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Multiplying and dividing directed numbers

The rules for multiplying and dividing directed numbers are:

Multiplication Division

+ × + = + + ÷ + = +
+ × − = − + ÷ − = −
− × + = − − ÷ + = −
− × − = + − ÷ − = +

If the two signs are the same, the answer will be positive.
If the two signs are different, the answer will be negative.
Examples
1 Work out 2  4

the two signs are the same so the answer is positive

2  4  8

2 Work out 3  8

the two signs are different so the answer is negative

3  8  24
Examples
3 Work out 5  2

the two signs are different so the answer is negative

5  2  10

4 Work out 4  7

the two signs are the same so the answer is positive

4  7  28
Examples
5 Work out (3)2  3  3

the two signs are the same so the answer is positive

3  3  9

6 Work out (2)3  2  2  2

first work out −2 × −2 = 4

2  2  2  4  2  8
the two signs are different so the answer is negative

(2)3  8