What Are Integers? Definition, Properties, Rules, Examples, Facts (2023)

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• What are Integers?
• Integers Definition
• Types of Integers
• Solved Examples
• Practice Problems

What are Integers?

An integer is a Latin word that means “whole” or “intact.” Hence, integers include all whole numbers and negative numbers without fractions and decimals.

Alt Tag: Integers

Let’s discuss the definition, types, and properties of integers and conduct arithmetic operations!

Integers Definition

We can define integers as numbers that can be written without a fractional component. They can be positive, negative, or zero.

Is -1 an integer?’ Yes!

Is -2 an integer? Yes!

Is -16 an integer? No!

Integer examples: $-7$, $-1$, 0, 2, 7, 15, etc.

Non-integer examples: 85, 3.14, 7, etc.

Integer symbol: The set of integers are represented by the symbol .

Types of Integers

Integer numbers can be divided into three categories: zero, positive integers, and negative integers.

Zero: Zero is an integer that is neither positive nor negative. It is simply written as 0 without any positive or negative sign.

Positive Integers: Positive integers are natural counting numbers greater than zero. They are sometimes denoted by $Z+$. Examples of positive integers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, . . .

Negative Integers: Negative integers are integers with a value less than zero. They are represented by $Z-$. Examples of negative integers are -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, . . .

How to Represent Integers on a Number Line?

All three categories of integers can be visually represented on an integer number line.

Zero is placed at the center of the number line. All positive integers lie on the right side of zero, and all negative integers lie on the left side of zero.

The numbers get bigger as we move from left to right on the number line. Therefore, the integer on the right-hand side is greater than the integer on the left-hand side. For example, $+6$ is greater than $-6$.

The more the integer is positive, the greater it is. For example, $+15$ is greater than $+12$.

The more the integer is negative, the smaller it is. For example, $-33$ is smaller than $-19$.

All positive integers are greater than all the negative integers. For example, $+17$ is greater than $-20$

How to Perform Arithmetic Operations on Integers?

The four basic mathematical operations are:

• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Division

For adding integers with the same sign, we simply add the absolute values of the numbers. The absolute value of a number is the non-negative value of the number without regard to its sign. For instance, the absolute value of $–3$ is | $–3$ |$= 3$.

The resultant integer will have the same sign as the given integers.

For example:

• $7 + 3 = 10$

Here, 7 and 3 are positive. So, the answer is +10 or simply 10.

• $(–7) + (–3) = –10$

Here, the absolute values are 7 and 3. Their sum is 10. Since both the numbers have a (–) sign, the answer is –10.

For adding integers with different signs, we subtract the absolute value of the integers. The resultant integer should be given the sign of the number that has the largest absolute value.

For example:

(Video) What's an Integer? | Integers Explained | Math with Mr. J

• $–4 + 8 = +4$

Here, the absolute values of integers are 4 and 8. On subtracting them, we get 4. Now eight has the largest absolute value, and its sign is $(+)$. So the answer is $+4$.

• $–6 + 2 = –$$4 Here, the absolute values of integers are 6 and 2. On subtracting them, we get 4. Now six has the largest absolute value, and its sign is (–). So the answer is –4. The rules for addition are summarized in the table below: Subtraction of Integers • Convert the subtraction operation into an addition operation by changing the sign of the second number that is being subtracted. • Apply the rules for adding integers as discussed above to get the answer. For example: • (–$$6)$ $–$ $(+7) = (–$$6) + ($$–$$7) = –$$13$

Here, we first convert the problem into addition by changing the sign of 7. Then, we follow the rules for addition. The absolute value of the integers is 6 and 7, and their sum is 13. Since both of them have a (–) sign, the answer is $–13$.

• $(+5)$ $–$ $(–$$4) = (+5) + (+4) = +9 Here, we first convert the problem into addition by changing the sign of 4. Then, we follow the rules for addition. The absolute value of the integers is 5 and 4, and their sum is 9. Since both of them have a (+) sign, the answer is +9. Multiplication of Integers • If both integers have the same sign, the resultant product will have a positive (+) sign. • If the integers have different signs, the resultant product will have a negative (–) sign. The rules are summarized in the table below: Division of Integers • If both integers have the same sign, the result will have a positive (+) sign. • If the integers have different signs, the result will have a negative (–) sign. Alt Tag: Division of Integers Properties of Integers 1. Closure Property 2. Commutative Property 3. Associative Property 4. Distributive Property 5. Additive Inverse Property 6. Multiplicative Inverse Property 7. Identity Property Let’s learn more about them! 1. Closure Property The closure property states that the addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integers results in an integer. So, for any two integers a and b: • a + b = Integer • a – b = Integer • a \times b = Integer For example: • –5 + 4 = –1 • 8 – 5 = 3 • 2 \times 3 = 6 However, the closure property does not work for the division of integers because the division of two integers may result in a non-integer. For example: 15 \div 2 = 7.5 2. Commutative Property The commutative property states that changing the position of integers during addition and multiplication does not change the result of the operation. Interestingly, this property is true for only the addition and multiplication and not for division and subtraction. So, for two integers a and b: • a + b = b + a • a \times b = b \times a Example: • –5 + 2 = 2 + (–$$5) = -$$3 • 3 \times 6 = 6 \times 3 = 18 3. Associative Property According to the associative property, changing the grouping of integers does not change the result of the operation. As above, this property is true for the addition and multiplication but not for division and subtraction. So, for any three integers a, b, and c: • a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c • a \times (b \times c) = (a \times b) \times c For example: 4. Distributive Property The distributive property states that the multiplication of integers can be distributed over addition and subtraction to make the calculation easier. So, for three integers a, b, and c: a \times (b + c) = (a \times b) + (a \times c) For example: • 5 \times (4 + 3) = (5 \times 4 + 5 \times 3) = 35 • –2 \times (6 + 1) = {(–$$2) \times 6 + (–$$2) \times 1} = –$$14$

This property states that the addition of an integer and its negative value will always be zero. So, for any integer a:

$a + (–$$a) = 0 For example: • 6 + (–$$6) = 0$

7. Identity Property

The identity property of an integer states that any integer added to zero will result in the same integer. Similarly, any integer multiplied by one will give the same integer.

So, for any integer a:

(Video) What are Integers? | Number System | Don't Memorise

• $a + 0 = 0 + a = a$
• $a \times 1 = 1 \times a = a$

Example:

• $10 + 0 = 0 + 10 = 10$
• $10 \times 1 = 1 \times 10 = 10$

Conclusion

So, we’ve covered everything from the definition and properties of integers and how to perform mathematical operations on them. The more you practice, the better you’ll understand integer numbers. Good luck!

Solved Examples

1. Sort the numbers as integers and non-integers.

5, 7.5, 100, 37, $–4.25$, 0

Solution:

Integers $= –$$5, 100, 0 Non-integers = 7.5, 37, –4.25 Integer numbers do not include fractions and decimals. Hence, –5, 100, and 0 are integer numbers, but 7.5, 37, and –4.25 are not. 2. Solve: (–$$8) –$ $(–$$5) Solution: Step 1: First, we change the operation to an addition operation by changing the sign of the number to be subtracted. So, (–$$8)$ $–$ $(–$5) =–$$8 + 5 Step 2: Then we follow the addition operation Since the signs are different, we need to find the difference in their absolute value. So, 8 – 5 = 3 The sign of the resultant integer will be the sign of the integer with the highest absolute value. Here, 8 is the integer with the highest absolute value, and its sign is negative. So the answer is –3. 3. Using the number line, find the integer which is: • 6 more than 3 • 7 less than 4 Solution: We know that the numbers get larger as we move from left to right. So, to find the number that is 6 more than 3, we have to move six steps to the right from 3. That will give us the answer 9. Again, to find the number that is 7 less than 4, we have to move 7 steps to the left from 4. That will give us the answer –3. Practice Problems 1 Which of the following comparisons are true?+10 . . . –10$$+5$. . .$+15$$–8 . . . 0$$–20$. . .$+210 \lt $$–$$10–8 \gt 0–20 \lt 2+5 = –$$5 CorrectIncorrect Correct answer is: –20 \lt 2 We know that the numbers get bigger as we move from left to right on the number line. Therefore, the integer on the right-hand side of the number line is greater than the integer on the left-hand side. Hence, –20 \lt +2 2 Which of the following is not true for the closure property of an integer? a + b = Integer a – b = Integer a \times b = Integer \frac{a}{b} = Integer CorrectIncorrect Correct answer is: \frac{a}{b} = Integer The closure property states that the addition, subtraction, or multiplication of integer numbers always results in an integer. But the same is not true for the division operation. For two integer numbers a and b, \frac{a}{b} may not always result in an integer. (Video) Negative Numbers: An Overview 3 Solve: (–20) – (+5) –25 25 -15 15 CorrectIncorrect Correct answer is: –25 Step 1: Change the operation to the addition operation by changing the sign of the number to be subtracted. So, (–20) – (+5) = –$$20 + (–5)$Step 2: Follow the addition operation. Since both numbers have the same sign, we need to find the sum of their absolute value. So,$20 + 5 = 25$The resultant integer will have a negative sign. So, the answer is$–25$. 4 Solve:$(–9) \times (–4)–9–436–36$CorrectIncorrect Correct answer is:$36$Step 1: Find the product of their absolute value.$9 \times 4 = 36$Step 2: Decide on the appropriate sign. If both numbers have the same sign, the resultant product will have a positive$(+)$sign. So, the answer will be 36. 5 Solve:$(35) \div (–5)7-70-1$CorrectIncorrect Correct answer is:$-7$Step 1: Divide the numbers normally without considering the sign.$35 \div 5 = 7$Step 2: Decide on the appropriate sign. If the numbers have different signs, the result will have a negative$(–)$sign. Here,$–5$has a negative sign. So, the answer is$–7$. (Video) Math Antics - Negative Numbers Frequently Asked Questions Is 0 an integer? Yes, 0 is an integer because an integer is defined as a number without any fractional part, and zero has no fractional part. Integers including 0 and positive integers are whole numbers. Whole numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, … Any integer “a” can be expressed as “$\frac{a}{1}$”, which is a rational number. So, all integers are rational numbers. However, all rational numbers are not integers. No, decimals are not integers. Integers consist of positive or negative numbers that are whole. They do not include fractions and decimals. Yes. Integers include negative numbers that are whole (without fractions or decimals). No. Integers do not include fractions. So,$-16$is not an integer. Consecutive integers are integer numbers that follow each other in order. For example:$–4$,$–3$,$–2$,$–1\$, 0, 1, 2, 3 . . .

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FAQs

What are the rules to define integers? ›

In Mathematics, integers are the collection of whole numbers and negative numbers. Similar to whole numbers, integers also does not include the fractional part. Thus, we can say, integers are numbers that can be positive, negative or zero, but cannot be a fraction.

What are the properties of integers with definition? ›

Properties of Integers
Commutative Propertyx + y = y+ xx ÷ y ≠ y ÷ x
Associative Propertyx + (y + z) = (x + y) +z(x ÷ y) ÷ z ≠ x ÷ (y ÷ z)
Identity Propertyx + 0 = x =0 + xx ÷ 1 = x ≠ 1 ÷ x
Closure Propertyx + y ∈ Zx ÷ y ∉ Z
1 more row
Jun 17, 2020

What are the 4 rules of integers? ›

The four basic arithmetic operations associated with integers are:
• Subtraction of integers.
• Multiplication of integers.
• Division of integers.

What are the 5 properties of integers? ›

Integers have 5 main properties, they are mentioned below:
• Closure Property.
• Associative Property.
• Commutative Property.
• Distributive Property.
• Identity Property.

What is an integer definition and examples? ›

An integer (pronounced IN-tuh-jer) is a whole number (not a fractional number) that can be positive, negative, or zero. Examples of integers are: -5, 1, 5, 8, 97, and 3,043.

What are integers definition for kids? ›

Integers are positive numbers, negative numbers and zero. This means numbers like 0,1,2,3 as well as -1, -2, -3, are integers. Integers do not have any added parts such as decimals or fractions. Therefore, numbers with fractions like 3 1/2 or decimals like -7.5 are NOT integers.

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