M*INTEGERS

By: Abby DeCuir

WHAT IS A M*INTEGER?

• Integers are like mints!

• Positive mints get better tasting as their value grows.

• Negative mints become worse tasting as their value decreases.

• Positive mints and negative mints can cancel each other. Check it out on a number line!

M*INTEGERs

• There are positive and negative M*INTEGERS.

• Go right, their value grows. Go left, their value shrinks.

• A M*INTEGER is any whole number, positive OR negative.

COMPARING M*INTEGERS

• Use the alligator method. (>,=,<)

• The hungry alligator eats the larger number; that number is greater.

• Something to the right → will always have a greater value than something to the left ←.

• For example… 5 > 2 < 7

COMBINING M*INTEGERS

• Take -8 and add 8. You get 0.

• Take -8 and add 10. You get 2.

• It’s basically adding, just with more numbers.

• Use the number line to help you see!

REWRITING SUBTRACTION – ADDING NEGATIVES

• Always use parentheses + (-4) to separate negative numbers and symbols.

• Otherwise, if you’re a sloppy writer it would look like an addition sign with a longer line to the right. +-4

BIGGER NUMBERS

• With M*INTEGERS you can subtract a number bigger than the original. (24-52)

• The “strength” of a number is it’s absolute value.

• *Remember – absolute value is the distance of a number from zero. +/- do not matter!

• TIP: CHANGE SUBTRACT TO “ADDING A NEGATIVE”.

MORE WAYS TO THINK ABOUT NEGATIVE NUMBERS

• Like the mall elevator, you have upper levels, and you have lower levels. Upper being positive, and lower being negative.

• Make sense?

HOW DO YOU SUBTRACT A NEGATIVE M*INTEGER?

• To subtract a negative M*INTEGER follow this: