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Understanding Directed Numbers in Math

Directed numbers have both a magnitude and direction, which can be positive or negative. The document discusses how directed numbers are represented on a number line, with positive numbers to the right of zero and negative numbers to the left. It provides examples of how directed numbers are used to represent concepts like temperature, profit/loss, and height/depth. Key rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing directed numbers are illustrated using a number line.

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Famediemame Oppong
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37 views6 pages

Understanding Directed Numbers in Math

Directed numbers have both a magnitude and direction, which can be positive or negative. The document discusses how directed numbers are represented on a number line, with positive numbers to the right of zero and negative numbers to the left. It provides examples of how directed numbers are used to represent concepts like temperature, profit/loss, and height/depth. Key rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing directed numbers are illustrated using a number line.

Uploaded by

Famediemame Oppong
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MATHEMATICS HANDOUT 2

DIRECTED NUMBERS
A directed number is a number that has both magnitude and direction.

Direction means either positive or negative


Magnitude means the value or size.

N positive

W negative E positive

S negative

The cardinal point indicate the direction of the numbers and their sign (i.e negative (-) or
positive (+)).

Above positive (+)


Below negative (-)
West negative (-)
East positive (+)
Left negative (-)
Right positive (+)

Examples:

If moving 10 m towards North is represented by +10;


-10 represent moving 10 m towards South, opposite direction of North.
If a positive (+ve) integer indicates a particular direction; then the negative (-ve) integer
indicates the opposite direction. Conversely, if a negative (-ve) integer indicates any
particular direction; then the positive (+ve) integer indicates the opposite direction.

If profit are represented by positive integer then losses by negative integers.


If heights above sea level by positive integers then depths below sea level by negative
integers.
If rise in price is represented by positive integers, then fall in price by negative integers
and so on.
If the rise in temperature by 63 C is denoted by +63; then -45 indicates the fall in
temperature by 45 C

Thus, if +256 represent a profit of $ 256; then a loss of $ 256 is represented by -256.

Similarly, if a depth of 37 below sea level is represented by -37; then +37 represents a height of
37 above sea level and so on.

REPRESENTING DIRECTED NUMBERS ON A NUMBER LINE:

We can represent directed numbers by the positions of points on a number line.

The numbers to the right of 0 (zero), e.g. +1, +2, +2.5 ..., are positive numbers.
The numbers to the left of 0, e.g. 1,2,2.3..., are negative numbers.
Usually, the + sign of a positive number may be omitted. For example,+5 is the same as 5
Temperature

Directed numbers are needed to represent temperature as sometimes readings involve


negative numbers.

A negative sign (-) indicates that the temperature is less than zero (0oC).
A positive sign (+) indicates that the temperature is greater than zero.

Example:

A thermometer shows 3oC. The temperature drops by 8oC. What is the new temperature.

Step 1: start at 3oC

Step 2: move 8 down the number line

Therefore the new temperature is 5oC.

Ordering directed numbers

A number line is helpful in ordering directed numbers


Addition and subtraction of directed numbers

The rules for adding and subtracting directed numbers are shown in the following examples.
Simply start at the first number and move the required number in the positive or negative
direction.

2+3 =5

On the number line, we start at 2 and move 3 units to the right and reach 5. We can consider +3
as moving 3 units to the right.

2+6 = 4

We start at 2 and move 6 units forward to the right and reach 4. Therefore, 2 + 6 = 4.
Multiplying directed numbers

Dividing directed numbers


Addition and subtraction signs together

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