Curriculum › Grade 7 › Mathematics

Operations with Integers

  • Grade 7
  • Mathematics
  • 7.NS.A.1
  • The Number System
  • Free lesson

Aligned to 7.NS.A.1 — Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

What this lesson teaches

Adding a negative moves left on the number line; subtracting a negative moves right (it's the same as adding). For multiplication/division, same signs give positive, different signs give negative.

Worked examples

Example 1

−3 + (−5) = −8 (both push left). −4 × 3 = −12 (different signs → negative). −6 − (−2) = −6 + 2 = −4.

Example 2

−12 ÷ (−4) = 3. Two negatives divided give a positive, just as they do when multiplied.

Example 3

Subtracting a negative adds: 5 − (−3) = 5 + 3 = 8. On a number line, you turn around twice and end up moving right.

Practice questions

  1. Compute −7 + 4.
  2. Compute −5 × −6.
  3. Compute 3 − 8, then −2 − (−9).

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Operaciones con Números Enteros

Sumar un número negativo nos mueve hacia la izquierda en la recta numérica; restar un número negativo nos mueve hacia la derecha (es lo mismo que sumar). En la multiplicación y división, signos iguales dan un resultado positivo, y signos diferentes dan un resultado negativo.

Ejemplo 1: −3 + (−5) = −8 (ambos mueven hacia la izquierda). −4 × 3 = −12 (signos diferentes → negativo). −6 − (−2) = −6 + 2 = −4.

Ejemplo 2: −12 ÷ (−4) = 3. Dos negativos divididos dan positivo, igual que al multiplicar.

Ejemplo 3: Restar un negativo suma: 5 − (−3) = 5 + 3 = 8. En la recta numérica giras dos veces y acabas moviéndote a la derecha.

More The Number System lessons

Multiplying & Dividing Rational Numbers7.NS.A.2Real-World Problems with Rational Numbers7.NS.A.3

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