Comprehensive Notes on Integers and Number Operations

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Integers

2. Operations with Positive and Negative Numbers

3. Special Number Types

4. Ordering and Comparing Numbers

5. Number Properties and Patterns

6. Problem-Solving with Numbers

1. Introduction to Integers

What are Integers?

Integers are whole numbers that can be positive, negative, or zero. They do not include
fractions or decimals.

Examples of integers: -5, -3, -1, 0, 1, 2, 10, 47

Not integers: 3.5, 1/2, 0.25, -2.7

The Number Line

A number line is a visual representation of numbers arranged in order. Numbers increase as you
move to the right and decrease as you move to the left.

Key points:

 Zero is the center point

 Positive numbers are to the right of zero

 Negative numbers are to the left of zero

 Each position represents a specific value based on the scale

Example: On a number line from 1 to 2, if there are 5 equal divisions, each division represents
0.2. If a point is at the second mark after 1, it represents 1.4.

2. Operations with Positive and Negative Numbers

When adding a positive and negative number, think of it as combining opposite quantities.

Rules:

 Positive + Positive = Positive (moving right on number line)

 Negative + Negative = Negative (moving left on number line)

 Positive + Negative = depends on which has greater magnitude

Example: If you have two numbers from the list {-10, -5, -2, 4, 6, 10} that add to make -1, you
need numbers whose difference is 1 with the negative having greater magnitude. The answer is
-5 and 4, because -5 + 4 = -1.

When is x + 10 positive, negative, or zero?

If x is a negative number, then x + 10 can be:

 Positive if x > -10 (e.g., x = -3, then -3 + 10 = 7)

 Negative if x < -10 (e.g., x = -15, then -15 + 10 = -5)

 Zero if x = -10 (e.g., -10 + 10 = 0)

Conclusion: x + 10 could be positive or negative or zero

Subtraction with Negative Numbers

Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number.

Key rule: p - n where p is positive and n is negative

Since n is negative, -n is positive, so p - n = p + (positive number) = always positive

Example: If p = 5 and n = -3, then p - n = 5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8

Multiplication with Negative Numbers

Rules:

 Positive × Positive = Positive

 Negative × Negative = Positive

 Positive × Negative = Negative

 Negative × Positive = Negative

Division with Negative Numbers

Rules (same as multiplication):

 Positive ÷ Positive = Positive

 Negative ÷ Negative = Positive

 Positive ÷ Negative = Negative

 Negative ÷ Positive = Negative

Example: p³ ÷ n³ where p is positive and n is negative

Since we're dividing a positive number (p³) by a negative number (n³), the result is always
negative.

Powers and Negative Numbers

When squaring or cubing numbers:

 Any number squared is positive: p² is always positive, n² is always positive

 Therefore p² + n² is always positive

Example: If p = 3 and n = -2, then p² + n² = 9 + 4 = 13

3. Special Number Types

Square Numbers

A square number is the result of multiplying a whole number by itself.

Square numbers: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100...

 1 = 1²

 4 = 2²

 9 = 3²

 16 = 4²

 25 = 5²

Finding numbers related to square numbers:

 5 is not (5 + 3 = 8, not a square)

 19 is not (19 + 3 = 22, not a square)

 22 is correct (22 + 3 = 25 = 5²)

 34 is not (34 + 3 = 37, not a square)

Answer: 22

Cube Numbers

A cube number is the result of multiplying a whole number by itself three times.

Cube numbers: 1, 8, 27, 64, 125...

 1 = 1³

 8 = 2³

 27 = 3³

 64 = 4³

Example: Which two numbers add together to make a cube number?

 1 and 8: 1 + 8 = 9 (not a cube)

 2 and 4: 2 + 4 = 6 (not a cube)

 9 and 18: 9 + 18 = 27 = 3³ ✓

 8 and 64: 8 + 64 = 72 (not a cube)

Answer: 9 and 18

Prime Numbers

A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that has exactly two factors: 1 and itself.

Prime numbers: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37...

Note: 2 is the only even prime number.

Multiples

A multiple of a number is the result of multiplying that number by any whole number.

Example: From the list {14, 9, 20, 29, 3, 45, 33}, which is a multiple of 4?
Multiples of 4 are: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28...

Answer: 20

Factors

A factor of a number is a whole number that divides into it exactly with no remainder.

Example: Factors of 12 are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 Example: Factors of 40 are: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 20, 40

Common factors of 12 and 40: 1, 2, 4

4. Ordering and Comparing Numbers

Comparing Decimals

To compare decimals, align the decimal points and compare digits from left to right.

Example: Order these from smallest to largest: 4.5061, 4.5, 4.516, 4.56

1. All have 4 in the units place

2. Compare tenths: all have 5

3. Compare hundredths:

o 4.5 = 4.500 (0 hundredths)

o 4.5061 has 0 hundredths

o 4.516 has 1 hundredth

o 4.56 has 6 hundredths

Order: 4.5 < 4.5061 < 4.516 < 4.56

Largest: 4.56

Rounding Decimals

When rounding to 1 decimal place, look at the second decimal place:

 If it's 5 or more, round up

 If it's less than 5, round down

Example: From {6.92, 7.27, 7.18, 7.14}, which rounds to 7.2 to 1 decimal place?

 6.92 rounds to 6.9

 7.18 rounds to 7.2 ✓

 7.14 rounds to 7.1

Answer: 7.18

Finding Closest Value

Example: Which number is closest to 7 from {6.92, 7.27, 7.18, 7.14}?

Calculate distances from 7:

 |6.92 - 7| = 0.08

 |7.27 - 7| = 0.27

 |7.18 - 7| = 0.18

 |7.14 - 7| = 0.14

Answer: 6.92 (only 0.08 away)

Comparing Negative Numbers

Negative numbers are ordered opposite to positive numbers. The further left on the number
line, the smaller the value.

Example: Circle the lowest temperature from {-2.1°C, 0.4°C, -5°C, 1°C}

Order from lowest to highest: -5°C < -2.1°C < 0.4°C < 1°C

Answer: -5°C

Using Comparison Symbols

Symbols:

 < means "less than"

 > means "greater than"

 = means "equal to"

Example: Compare 2.54 and 2.508 2.54 = 2.540, so 2.54 > 2.508

Example: Compare 0.25 and 1/4 1/4 = 0.25, so 0.25 = 1/4

Example: Compare 2⁵ and 2² 2⁵ = 32 and 2² = 4, so 2⁵ > 2²

Even and Odd Numbers

Even numbers: divisible by 2 (end in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8) Odd numbers: not divisible by 2 (end in 1, 3, 5,

Key properties:

 Even + Even = Even

 Odd + Odd = Even

 Even + Odd = Odd

 Even × Any number = Even

 Odd × Odd = Odd

Why is n(n + 1) always even when n is odd?

If n is odd, then (n + 1) is even (consecutive numbers alternate between odd and even).

When you multiply an odd number by an even number, the result is always even.

Example: If n = 7 (odd), then n(n + 1) = 7 × 8 = 56 (even)

Digit Patterns

Example: Find all whole numbers between 20 and 50 where the difference between digits is 4.

Method: For a two-digit number with digits a and b, we need |a - b| = 4

Checking systematically:

 26: |2 - 6| = 4 ✓

 31: |3 - 1| = 2 ✗

 37: |3 - 7| = 4 ✓

 40: |4 - 0| = 4 ✓

 48: |4 - 8| = 4 ✓

Answer: 26, 37, 40, 48

Digit Multiplication
Example: For 2-digit numbers, multiply the digits together.

For 63: 6 × 3 = 18

Find different 2-digit numbers with specific products:

 Product of 18: Could be 29 (2 × 9 = 18), 36 (3 × 6 = 18)

 Product of 0: Any number with 0 as a digit, like 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90

 Product greater than 70: Need large digits, like 89 (8 × 9 = 72), 99 (9 × 9 = 81)

6. Problem-Solving with Numbers

Linear Patterns and Sequences

When analyzing patterns in tables, look for consistent differences.

Example: Concrete mixer costs

 Day 1: £14

 Day 2: £24 (increase of £10)

 Day 3: £34 (increase of £10)

 Day 4: £44 (increase of £10)

 Day 5: £54 (increase of £10)

Is the rate £14 per day?

No. The initial cost is £14, but each additional day costs £10. If it were £14 per day:

 2 days would cost £28 (not £24)

 5 days would cost £70 (not £54)

The pattern is: Cost = £14 + £10 × (days - 1), or equivalently, £4 base fee + £10 per day.

Set Operations and Swapping

Example: Two sets with numbers

 Set A: {2, 12, 13, 27} → Total = 54

 Set B: {1, 15, 16, 30} → Total = 62

After swapping one number from each set, both totals are equal.
Method: If totals are equal after swapping, each must equal (54 + 62) ÷ 2 = 58

We need Set A to gain 4 and Set B to lose 4.

If we swap x from A with y from B:

 Set A loses x and gains y: 54 - x + y = 58, so y - x = 4

Testing: If we swap 13 from A with 17 from B... but 17 isn't in B.

Looking for pairs where difference is 4:

 2 from A, but no number in B is 6

 12 from A and 16 from B: 16 - 12 = 4 ✓

Answer: Swap 12 and 16

Algebraic Expressions

Terms in expressions: An expression like 5a + 7b + 9c has three terms:

 First term: 5a

 Second term: 7b

 Third term: 9c

Understanding fractions and division: "Half the value of x" can be written as:

 x/2 (x divided by 2)

 NOT 2/x (which is 2 divided by x)

 NOT 1/2 - x (which is 0.5 minus x)

 NOT x - 1/2 (which is x minus 0.5)

Logic Puzzles with Constraints

Example: A 5-digit code with constraints:

 Digits in order from smallest to largest

 Last digit is the only square number

 Middle digit is the only even number

Solution process:

1. Single-digit squares: 1, 4, 9
 2. If last digit is the only square and middle is the only even:

o Last digit must be 4 or 9 (1 is eliminated as we need 5 different digits)

o If last is 4, middle must be different even (but 4 is only square) - contradiction

o So last digit is 9

3. Middle (3rd position) is only even digit

4. Other positions must be odd

5. Available digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

6. Odd digits available: 1, 3, 5, 7

7. Even digits available: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8

8. Need smallest to largest with middle being even

Constructing: 1, 3, (even), (odd), 9

If middle is 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 9 - but we need 5 different digits and 4 would be a square (conflicts with
"last digit only square")

If middle is 2: 1, (something), 2, (something), 9 - but 1 < ? < 2 has no integers

Try: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9 - middle is 6 (even, not square), last is 9 (square), and digits increase.

Answer: 13679

Cross-Number Puzzles

Example: Place 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 in circles where:

 Each line of three multiplies to 12

 Vertical total is one more than horizontal total

Solution: Lines that multiply to 12:

 1 × 2 × 6 = 12

 1 × 3 × 4 = 12

 2 × 2 × 3 = 12 (but can't repeat 2)

Using 1, 2, 6 on one line and 1, 3, 4 on the other would use 1 twice.

If center is shared:
  One line: a × center × b = 12

 Other line: c × center × d = 12

If center = 2:

 ? × 2 × ? = 12 → needs 1 × 6 or 3 × 2 (can't use 2 again)

 Horizontal: 1 × 2 × 6

 Vertical: 3 × 2 × ? → 3 × 2 × 2 (can't repeat)

If center = 1:

 ? × 1 × ? = 12 → needs 3 × 4 or 2 × 6

 Could work with arrangement

Proper arrangement: Place 2 at center, 1-2-6 horizontally (sum = 9), 3-2-4 vertically (sum = 9).
This doesn't satisfy "vertical is one more."

Correct approach: Try 3 at center

 1 × 3 × 4 = 12 (sum = 8)

 2 × 3 × 2 (can't use 2 twice)

After systematic trial:

 Horizontal: 1-3-4 (sum = 8)

 Vertical: 2-3-6 (sum = 11) - but sum should be 9

The solution requires careful arrangement to satisfy both conditions.

Summary

This chapter on integers covers:

1. Understanding positive and negative whole numbers

2. Operations with signed numbers and their rules

3. Special numbers (squares, cubes, primes, factors, multiples)

4. Ordering and comparing numbers including decimals

5. Number properties (even/odd, digit patterns)

Key skills:

 Recognizing number types and their properties

 Performing operations with negative numbers

 Comparing and ordering different number formats

 Solving multi-step problems with constraints

 Understanding algebraic expressions and terms