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Secondary 2 · Mathematics
Numbers · Integers

Operations with Integers

Before you start, make sure you know: The set of integers (Secondary Year 1 (first cycle))
Before you start, make sure you know: Representation on the number line (Secondary Year 1 (first cycle))

Wilkin is playing a survival video game. He starts with 150 energy points, loses 25 for every hour he spends in a cave, and gains 40 for every crystal he collects. To find out how much energy he has left, you need to add and subtract integers without mistakes and combine several operations in the right order. Let's go step by step.

Adding and subtracting integers

Animation of a number line: a point starts at −5 °C, an arrow of +12 is drawn up to +7 °C, and then another arrow of −9 moves it back to −2 °C; the process repeats. +12 −9 −5 °C 0 −2 °C +7 °C
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At a ski resort in Sierra Nevada, the thermometer read $-5^{\circ}C$ at seven in the morning. At noon, the temperature rose by $12^{\circ}C$ and, by nightfall, it…

At a ski resort in Sierra Nevada, the thermometer read $-5^{\circ}C$ at seven in the morning. At noon, the temperature rose by $12^{\circ}C$ and, by nightfall, it dropped again by $9^{\circ}C$. What temperature did the thermometer read at the end of the day? Write the complete calculation using integers.

Solve
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Look at the following number line and the moves made by a grasshopper starting from point $0$. State the integer corresponding to each final position after making the…

Look at the following number line and the moves made by a grasshopper starting from point $0$. State the integer corresponding to each final position after making the jumps shown.

−8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −2 −1 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 0 4 −3 +4 −7
  1. a) Which number does it reach after the first jump of $+4$?
  2. b) Which number does it finally land on after the second move?
Solve
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In your savings account for the end-of-year trip, you have an initial balance of $\text{RD\$}\ 2\,700…

In your savings account for the end-of-year trip, you have an initial balance of $\text{RD\$}\ 2\,700$. During the week, you make the following transactions:

  • You deposit $\text{RD\$}\ 1\,200$ given to you by your grandmother.

  • You pay for a cinema ticket costing $\text{RD\$}\ 540$.

  • You buy a second-hand book for $\text{RD\$}\ 360$.

  • You are paid back $\text{RD\$}\ 180$ that you had lent to a friend.

Calculate the final balance using an expression with positive and negative numbers.

Solve

Absolute value and jumps on the number line

The absolute value of a number is its distance from $0$, so it is never negative: $|-12| = 12$, $|+5| = 5$, $|0| = 0$. To order absolute values, first calculate each one and then compare.

To follow jumps on the number line, start at the initial number and add each jump: to the right is positive, to the left is negative.

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Calculate the absolute value of the following numbers and order them from smallest to largest: $|-12|, |+5|, |0|, |-3|, |+1|$

Calculate the absolute value of the following numbers and order them from smallest to largest:

$|-12|, |+5|, |0|, |-3|, |+1|$

Solve
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A delivery driver enters a building and parks his van on the second basement level (floor $-2$). He makes the following trips: 1. He goes up 5 floors to deliver a…

A delivery driver enters a building and parks his van on the second basement level (floor $-2$). He makes the following trips:

  1. He goes up 5 floors to deliver a package.

  2. He goes down 4 floors to pick up another box.

  3. He goes up 7 floors for the last delivery.

Calculate which floor the delivery driver is on when he finishes his work. Use the following diagram, which shows the starting floor; you can mark each trip on it.

Vertical diagram of a building with floors from 7 to −3 and the van on floor −276543210−1−2−3FloorStart
Solve
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In a young saver's bank account, the following transactions are recorded in one week: a deposit of $45$ pesos, a card payment of $-12$ pesos, a transfer received of $20$…

In a young saver's bank account, the following transactions are recorded in one week: a deposit of $45$ pesos, a card payment of $-12$ pesos, a transfer received of $20$ pesos, and three automatic subscription charges of $-9$ pesos each.

If the balance at the start of the week was $-15$ pesos, what is the final balance? Write down the process using an addition of positive and negative numbers.

−20 −10 0 10 20 30 40 +RD$45 −RD$12 +RD$20 3 × (−RD$9) = −RD$27 Start −RD$15 End
Solve

Multiplying and dividing: the sign rule

Diagram of the sign rule showing that the product of equal signs is positive and the product of different signs is negative. same signs: + (+)·(+) = + (−)·(−) = + different signs: − (+)·(−) = − (−)·(+) = −
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Solve the following multiplications and divisions, correctly applying the rule of signs: a) $(+6) \times (-3) =$ b) $(-20) : (-5) =$ c) $(-8) \times (-4) =$ d)…

Solve the following multiplications and divisions, correctly applying the rule of signs:

  1. a) $(+6) \times (-3) =$
  2. b) $(-20) : (-5) =$
  3. c) $(-8) \times (-4) =$
  4. d) $(+35) : (-7) =$
Solve
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Solve the following multiplication number pyramid. The value in each box is the product of the two integers located directly below it.

Solve the following multiplication number pyramid. The value in each box is the product of the two integers located directly below it.

× × × −2 +5 −4 ? −20 ?
Solve

Removing parentheses with a sign in front

If a parenthesis has a $+$ in front of it, the signs inside stay the same; if it has a $-$ in front, all the signs inside change.

Diagram of removing parentheses: the outer minus sign turns −(−4) into +4 and −(+8) into −8. −(−4) − (+8) the − in front changes the signs inside −(−4) = +4 −(+8) = −8 = +4 − 8
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Expand the brackets and calculate the final result of the following expressions: a) $+(+7) + (-3) - (+5) =$ b) $-(-4) - (+8) + (-2) =$ c) $+(-10) - (-6) - (-1) =$

Expand the brackets and calculate the final result of the following expressions:

  1. a) $+(+7) + (-3) - (+5) =$
  2. b) $-(-4) - (+8) + (-2) =$
  3. c) $+(-10) - (-6) - (-1) =$
Solve
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Simplify the following expression by expanding brackets and using the properties of absolute value and the opposite:…

Simplify the following expression by expanding brackets and using the properties of absolute value and the opposite:

$- | -8 + 3 \times (-2) | - [ - ( - 10 ) + ( - 4 ) \times ( - 3 ) ]$

Solve

Combined operations: parentheses, brackets, and braces

When there are parentheses inside brackets inside braces, always work from the inside out. Within each level, first multiply and divide, and then add and subtract.

Diagram of priority levels: first parentheses, then brackets, and finally braces and the basic operations. 1. ( ) innermost 2. [ ] brackets 3. { } braces, then · : + −
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Calculate the result of these combined operations, respecting the order of operations: a) $10 + 2 \times (-3) =$ b) $(-15) : 3 - 4 =$ c) $8 - (-10) : 2 =$ d)…

Calculate the result of these combined operations, respecting the order of operations:

  1. a) $10 + 2 \times (-3) =$
  2. b) $(-15) : 3 - 4 =$
  3. c) $8 - (-10) : 2 =$
  4. d) $(-5) \times (-2) + (-6) =$
Solve
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In a survival video game, a player starts with $150$ energy points. For every hour spent exploring dark caves, they lose $25$ points, but for every "light crystal" they…

In a survival video game, a player starts with $150$ energy points. For every hour spent exploring dark caves, they lose $25$ points, but for every "light crystal" they collect, they gain $40$ points.

If the player spends $4$ hours in the caves and manages to collect $3$ crystals, write an expression with integers that represents their final energy and calculate it.

Solve
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Calculate the result of the following combined operations, respecting the order of operations and paying special attention to the signs: a)…

Calculate the result of the following combined operations, respecting the order of operations and paying special attention to the signs:

  1. a) $-5 \times [ -3 + 2 \times (4 - 7) ]$
  1. b) $( -12 + 16 ) : ( 1 - 5 ) - 3 \times ( -2 )$
Solve
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Solve the following combined operation, paying special attention to the order of operations and the use of brackets, square brackets, and braces:…

Solve the following combined operation, paying special attention to the order of operations and the use of brackets, square brackets, and braces:

$15 - \{ -3 \times [8 - (12 - 15) \times (-2)] + (-18) : (5 - 11) \}$

PRIORITY { [ ( ) ] } Brackets and square brackets x² √ Powers and roots · : Multiplication and division + - Addition and subtraction
Solve

Problems: turning them into a single expression

For problems about depth, floors, or money, read each movement in order: going up or gaining is $+$, going down or losing is $-$. "Double," "triple," or "half" are multiplications or divisions of an amount you already know. Write everything as one expression and solve it using the order of operations.

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An oceanographic research bathyscaphe is submerged at $-450$ meters relative to sea level. It performs a three-stage maneuver: 1. Descends a distance equal to one third…

An oceanographic research bathyscaphe is submerged at $-450$ meters relative to sea level. It performs a three-stage maneuver:

  1. Descends a distance equal to one third of its current depth.

  2. Ascends $120$ meters to avoid a thermal current.

  3. Descends double what it ascended in the previous step.

At what depth is the bathyscaphe after completing the maneuver? Express it using a combined operation with integers.

Sea level (0 m) Depth 0 −150 −300 −450 −600 −750 ? Start 1. Descends 1/3 (−150 m) 2. Ascends (+120 m) 3. Descends double (−240 m) ?
Solve
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A tech company listed on the stock market started the week with a value per share of $45$ pesos. During the five working days, it underwent the following daily changes:…

A tech company listed on the stock market started the week with a value per share of $45$ pesos. During the five working days, it underwent the following daily changes:

  • Monday: rises $3$ pesos.

  • Tuesday: falls twice as much as it rose on Monday.

  • Wednesday: loses $4$ pesos.

  • Thursday: recovers half of what was lost between Tuesday and Wednesday.

  • Friday: rises three times the change on Monday.

What is the final value of the share at the close on Friday? Express the whole process with a single operation using integers.

Solve
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An underwater exploration drone is submerged at a depth of $-150$ meters relative to sea level. It makes the following moves: 1. Ascends $80$ meters to avoid a current.…

An underwater exploration drone is submerged at a depth of $-150$ meters relative to sea level. It makes the following moves:

  1. Ascends $80$ meters to avoid a current.

  2. Descends three times as far as it just ascended.

  3. Ascends again by half the depth at which it was located after the second move.

Calculate the final depth of the drone and express it using a combined operation that includes absolute values for the distances traveled.

sea level 0 −50 −100 −150 −200 −250 −300 −150 +80 −70 −240 −310 +155 ?
Solve
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In a very tall skyscraper, a maintenance worker is in basement $-4$. He goes up $12$ floors to fix an air conditioner. Then, he goes down twice as many floors as he…

In a very tall skyscraper, a maintenance worker is in basement $-4$. He goes up $12$ floors to fix an air conditioner. Then, he goes down twice as many floors as he initially went up. Finally, he goes up by the absolute value of the floor he is currently on to reach his final job.

On which floor does the worker end his working day?

Solve

The distributive property and the unknown term

Diagram of the distributive property: −3 multiplies 8 and −12 separately, giving −24 + 36 = 12. −3 · (8 − 12) −3 · 8 = −24 −3 · (−12) = +36 = −24 + 36 = 12

Finding the unknown number

To fill in a blank or find $x$, undo the operations in reverse: what is added gets subtracted, and what is multiplied gets divided. For example, in $-15 + (\square) = -32$ the blank is $-32 - (-15) = -17$. In an equation with braces and brackets, solve for the unknown working from the outside in.

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Apply the distributive property to solve the following expressions in two different ways (first calculating inside the brackets and then distributing the factor): a)…

Apply the distributive property to solve the following expressions in two different ways (first calculating inside the brackets and then distributing the factor):

  1. a) $-3 \times ( 8 - 12 )$
  1. b) $5 \times [ -4 + ( -6 ) ]$
  1. c) $( -10 + 2 ) \times ( -4 )$
Solve
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Fill in the blanks with the corresponding integer to make the equations true: a) $-15 + ( \square ) = -32$ b) $4 \times ( \square ) = -36$ c) $( \square ) : (-3) = +12$…

Fill in the blanks with the corresponding integer to make the equations true:

  1. a) $-15 + ( \square ) = -32$
  1. b) $4 \times ( \square ) = -36$
  1. c) $( \square ) : (-3) = +12$
  1. d) $-10 - ( \square ) = -4$
Solve
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Write a mathematical expression that uses at least one multiplication, one division, one addition, and a set of brackets, such that the final result is $-10$.

Write a mathematical expression that uses at least one multiplication, one division, one addition, and a set of brackets, such that the final result is $-10$.

Solve
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Find the value that the unknown $x$ must have for the following equation to hold true. Show all intermediate steps of your working:…

Find the value that the unknown $x$ must have for the following equation to hold true. Show all intermediate steps of your working:

$24 : \{ -2 \times [x - (12 - 17)] \} = -3$

Solve
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Use the distributive property in reverse (factorising out a common factor) to calculate the result of the following expression as quickly and easily as possible:…

Use the distributive property in reverse (factorising out a common factor) to calculate the result of the following expression as quickly and easily as possible:

$(-12) \times 35 + (-12) \times (-18) + (-12) \times 33$

Once the common factor is taken out, solve the expression inside the brackets and obtain the final result.

Solve
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Fill in the empty boxes in this integer pyramid, knowing that the value in each box is equal to the sum of the two numbers directly below it. You must first calculate…

Fill in the empty boxes in this integer pyramid, knowing that the value in each box is equal to the sum of the two numbers directly below it. You must first calculate the boxes at the base to be able to complete the rest.

+ −8 12 −5 30
Solve

Back to the beginning: if Wilkin spends 3 hours in the cave and collects 2 crystals, his final energy is $150 - 3 \times 25 + 2 \times 40 = 150 - 75 + 80 = 155$ points.

Summary

See all the exercises in this section