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Integer



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In this section, we begin learning about a new group of numbers known as the integers. When we ask the question: what is an integer? The answer involves exploring values that are to the left of 0 on the number line. These values will allow us to think about negative values. Let’s suppose you had 1 dollar in your checking account and spent 5 dollars. Your balance would now be negative. You would owe the bank 4 dollars or have a balance of -4 dollars. To display the set of integers, we think about the whole numbers and their opposites. To find the opposite or additive inverse of a number, we just change the sign of the number. So the opposite of 3 is -3, the opposite of 7 is -7, so on and so forth.
Whole Numbers:{0, 1, 2, 3,...}
To obtain the integers we expand the set of whole numbers by including their opposites.
Integers:{...,-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,...}
We will learn to compare two integer values using a number line. We can compare the relationship between the two numbers using a:
Greater than symbol ">" When the number on the left is larger
Less than symbol "<" When the number on the left is smaller
We will also learn how to simplify when opposites or additive inverses are involved. In some cases, we will see multiple "-" signs involved in a problem.
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