4/17/24, 5:36 PM Introduction: Integers - Mathematics (Maths) Class 7 PDF Download

Introduction: Integers

What are the Numbers?

Example: 2, 5, 99 etc.
Now, numbers are classified into various types:

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Natural Numbers
Numbers used for counting in everyday life are called natural numbers eg. 2 pens, 6 chocolates,
etc are called natural numbers. Natural numbers begin from 1. The addition of 2 natural numbers
is a natural number, for example, 2 + 3 = 5. Also, the multiplication of 2 natural numbers is a
natural number.
For example: 2 × 3 = 6.

Whole Numbers
All the natural numbers along with zero (0) are called whole numbers. Therefore zero (0) is not a
natural number as you cannot count zero. But zero is a whole number. Thus every natural
number is a whole number. Zero is the only whole number that is not a natural number.
Addition of 2 whole number is a whole number, Example: 4 + 0 = 4.
Also, the multiplication of 2 whole numbers is also a whole number, Example: 4 × 0 = 0.

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Try yourself: The natural numbers along with zero forms the collection of

a. Integers

b. Real numbers

c. Whole numbers

d. Rational numbers

View Solution

Negative Numbers
Negative numbers are a concept i.e. they do not exist in reality. But for the purpose of
calculation, we imagine a number system in which all natural numbers are preceded by a
negative sign, for example, -1, -2, -3, -4….and so on. Their value is less than 0 and as the
numbers increase the value of the unit decreases, for example -1 > -2 > -3 > -4 > -99 >
-20000 and so on.
The addition of 2 negative numbers is also a negative number, for example (-2) +(-4) = (-6).
Also the subtraction of a negative number may or may not be a negative number, for example
(-2) -(-4) = -2 + 4 = 2.
Multiplication/ Division of 2 negative numbers is a positive number.
Example: -2 × -4 = 8; -4 /-2 = 2.

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Try yourself: The product of two negative numbers is

a. Always negative

b. 0

c. Either positive or negative

d. Always positive

View Solution

What is an Integer?
An integer is a whole number from the set of negative, positive, and 0 numbers.
Negative: -1, -2, -3...
Positive: 1, 2, 3, 4....
Zero: 0 all by itself.

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Mathematically, every natural number is an integer, every whole number is an integer, and
every negative number is an integer. i.e. if we construct a set of all natural numbers, whole
numbers, and negative numbers then such a set is called an Integer set, it can be represented
as,

So, The sum of 2 or more integers is an integer, for example, 2 + 4+ (-2) = 4. Also, the
subtraction of 2 integers is also an integer, for example 2 + (-4) = -2. Similarly, the
multiplication of 2 integers is also an integer, Example: 2 × -4 = -8.
The set of integers does not include fractions i.e p/q form or numbers which are in decimals
eg: 2.4, 3.2, etc. The set of integers is an infinite set which means it has no ending on either
side. That is because for every number on either the positive or negative side there is always
one another number at an increment or decrement of 1 respectively. Hence the set of
integers cannot be bound and is thus inexhaustible.
Example: Find 2 consecutive numbers whose sum is 129
Ans: Assume the numbers are ‘x’ and ‘x+1’
x + x + 1 = 129
so, 2x = 129 – 1
2x = 128
x = 64
if x = 64 then, x+1 = 65.
Hence, the numbers are 64 and 65.

Basics of Integers

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An integer is a Latin word that means whole. As we have learned above, an integer may
comprise a set of whole numbers that include zero, positive numbers, and negative numbers.
Integers, however, do not include decimals, percents, and fractions. For understanding the
basics of integers we need to represent them on a number line. The figure below shows
numbers marked on a number line:

The numbers on the right side of zero (0) are positive numbers while those on the left side
are negative numbers. When we arrange these numbers in ascending order, the negative
numbers are the lowest while the positive numbers are the highest. So in the number line
above, amongst the numbers -4, 1, and 2 the number -4 is the lowest whereas 2 is the
highest.

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Try yourself: Which number is greater than -7?

a. -9

b. -5

c. -11

d. -10

View Solution

Positive Numbers
The numbers with a plus (+) sign are called positive numbers. These numbers are present on
the right of zero (0). Generally, a number without any sign is also considered a positive number.
Every positive number is more significant than its negative counterpart and zero. Example: 6 is
more significant than -6.

Negative Numbers
A negative number is a contradiction of a positive number. It is written with a -ve sign. Negative
numbers are present on the left of a zero on a number line. Every negative number is less than its
positive counterparts.

Zero
A number that is neither positive nor negative is a zero. It occupies the center of the number
line and is a neutral number.

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How do Operations work?

When we use a number line to do mathematical operations like addition and subtraction we
follow the underwritten points:
When we add a positive integer, on a number line we move to the right. For example, if
we add 3 to -1 we move to the right on a number line.

When we add a negative integer on a number line we move to the left. For example, if
we add -4 to +3 and then move left we get the answer -1.

When we subtract a positive integer, we move to the left on that line. For example,
when we remove +4 from +2 we get -2.

When we subtract a negative integer, on a number line we move to the right. For
example, if we subtract -3 from -2 we get +1.

When we add one positive and one negative integer, then in such case we find the
difference between the two integers. The sign, however, shall be the sign of the larger

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number. Here, we do not consider what the sign of a larger number shall be for
conducting the operation. This means that in any case, when there is a negative number,
we have to subtract the lower from the higher.
When we subtract two integers, we take them as the sum of one number with the
additive inverse of that number.
Example: If b has to be subtracted from a then we add the additive inverse of the integer
b to get the answer. So when we subtract b from a, we write it as a + (-b) [-b is the
additive inverse of b].

Try yourself: On a number line, when we subtract a positive integer, we

a. Move to the right

b. Move to the left

c. Do not move at all

d. None of these

View Solution

Now suppose if b itself is a negative integer then, a-(-b) = a+b. This means that when we
subtract the negative integer from a positive integer, we ultimately end up adding the two
integers. A minus sign, when combined with a minus sign, becomes a positive. Let’s take 'a'
as a negative integer now.
When we take ‘a’ as a negative integer and b also as a negative integer then, -a-(-b) = -a+b= b-
a. So when both the integers are negative, we find the difference between the two to get

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the answer. The sign, however, shall be of the higher integer.

Additive Inverse
For further understanding of the basics of Integers, another concept to understand is the additive
inverse. An additive inverse of an integer is the number with the contrasting sign. For +4 the
additive inverse is -4. For -5 additive inverse shall be +5.

Comparing Integers
When we compare integers, we need to keep in mind the sign before the integer. A negative
integer, no matter what the number is lower than any positive number.
Example: When we compare the integers -5 and 3, -5 is lower and 3 is higher. A negative sign
makes the number lower.

Applications of Integers

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Integers are generally used to signify two contradicting situations. These are not just any
numbers, they are numbers with signs. Positive numbers and negative numbers can have
varying applications.
The most real application of integers is measuring the temperature. The positive and
negative aspects of a temperature let us know, compare and measure the change in
temperature.

Apart from measuring temperature integers are used in the credits and debits calculation
by the banks. Integers help in quantifying things in a better way.
Example: If a and b are two integers with values +5 and -7 respectively, then what
shall be the sum and difference between the two:
a. 12, 2
b. -2,12
c. -2,-12
d. 2,12

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Sol: (b) Sum of a+b = +5 +(-7) = -2

Try yourself: (+ 1) + (- 2) = ?

a. 2

b. 1

c. -1

d. -2

View Solution

Integers help one to compare or measure two things like how big or small or more or fewer
things like the heights of buildings.
Some other real-life situations where integers come into play are players’ scores in golf,
football, and hockey tournaments, and the rating of movies or songs.

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