Thread: Integers

This is going to be the first thing I study in school, I am not good at math but would love to have a better understanding of it. Is there anyone out there that can tell me how to do integers and give a detailed example to start me off with it?

What do you mean by integers?

What level are you studying?

When I hear integers I think directed numbers. Do you have a number line?

Really I am not sure, I am just trying to prepare myself for some things. I know integers have to do with positive and negitive but I do not know anything else about it and what it is Just trying to get an idea, i am just going to be studying it at a college level.

Sounds like you need a number line.

Can you follow this?

$\displaystyle 5-3 = 2$

therefore

$\displaystyle 3-5 = -2$

but how?

Well I know how, I am not sure how to explain but ..
you have 3 dollars and spend 5 leaving you with minus 2

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
^_______.^
I understand that part of it, but what are integers used for? What kind of problems need to be solved using integers?

Originally Posted by MarySW

I understand that part of it, but what are integers used for? What kind of problems need to be solved using integers?

applications like this...

Originally Posted by MarySW

you have 3 dollars and spend 5 leaving you with minus 2

Oh, what would be a more difficult question then?

Originally Posted by MarySW

Oh, what would be a more difficult question then?

$\displaystyle -2\times-6+7\times -3$

How would you do this one?

Seriously have no idea, I am so terrible. I do not know how I would go about to multiply integers : /

Is the answer 78? If not, could you break down how to do this. or is it -4 .. when I did it myself I got 78, when i calculated it I got -4 ... very different numbers here.

meh, i know I'm wrong with both numbers

I figured it out, is it -9? I put it in brackets and did (-2 x -6) = 12 then (7x -3) = -21 - 12+ -21 = -9
I looked up all the formulas and what not positive plus positive and what not. Sorry for the multiple posts lol

Correct.