POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE INTEGERS

Positive numbers are numbers greater than 0. Positive numbers can be written with or without a plus sign.

For example, 3 is the same as +3. Negative numbers are numbers less than 0. Negative numbers must always be written with a negative sign. 

Two integers are opposites if, on a number line, they are the same distance from 0 but on different sides of 0. For example, 5 and -5 are opposites. 0 is its own opposite.

The above situation is illustrated in the picture given below. 

Comparing Positive and Negative Integers - Examples

Example 1 :

Compare the integers -4 and 4.

Solution : 

Let us locate the two integers -4 and 4 on a number line and mark them. 

Here, the positive integer 4 comes to the right of -4.

Therefore "4" is greater than "-4"

And -4 comes to the left of 4.  

Therefore "-4" is smaller than "4".

Example 2 :

Compare the integers -1 and 1.

Solution : 

Let us locate the two integers -1 and 1 on a number line and mark them. 

Here, the positive integer 1 comes to the right of -1.

Therefore "1" is greater than "-1"

And -1 comes to the left of 1.  

Therefore "-1" is smaller than "1".

Ordering Positive and Negative Integers - Examples

Example 1 :

Order the integers 1, -5, 5, 4, 0, -2, -1, 3 from least to greatest. 

Solution : 

Let us locate the integers 1, -5, 5, 4, 0, -2, -1, 3 on a number line and mark them. 

From the above number line, write the integers from left to right to list them in order from least to greatest.  

Thus, we get

-5, -2, -1, 0, 1, 3, 4, 5

Example 2 :

John recorded the following golf scores during his first week at a golf academy. Negative numbers represent scores below par, a standard score. In golf, a lower score beats a higher score.

Graph John’s scores on the number line, and then list the numbers in order from least to greatest.

Solution :

Step 1 :

Graph the scores on the number line.

Step 2 :

Read from left to right to list the scores in order from least to greatest.

The scores listed from least to greatest are

–5, –3, –2, –1, 0, 3, 4

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