Integers & Negatives
Operations with negative numbers and integer properties
Generate Unlimited Practice Questions
Sign up for free and get 50 practice questions to start your prep.
Start Free PracticeLearn This Topic
Imagine you are playing your favorite video game. 🎮 You grab a lucky coin and gain 10 points! But then, oh no, you touch a spike and lose 15 points. How many points do you have now? You have -5 points! Welcome to the world of integers and negative numbers.
Integers are just whole numbers, but they can be positive (like having points or money), negative (like losing points or owing money), or exactly zero. On the ISEE, you will see a lot of questions asking you to add, subtract, multiply, or divide these numbers. The great news is that integers follow very strict rules, so once you learn the "cheat codes," these questions become super easy points on test day! 🚀
When adding and subtracting, think of a number line or a piggy bank. If you are at and add , you just hop 5 spaces to the right to land on . Multiplying and dividing has an even cooler trick: if the two numbers have the same sign, the answer is positive. If they have different signs, the answer is negative! It is like a secret code. Master this code, and you will totally crush the Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement sections of the ISEE! 🌟
Practice Questions
3 practice questions for ISEE Middle Level
Show Solution
- To find the total vertical distance, subtract the lower elevation from the higher elevation. Sea level is considered feet. The seabird is at feet and the diver is at feet. The distance is . Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number: feet.
Show Solution
- First, find the temperature at noon by adding the °F rise to the morning temperature: °F. Then, subtract the °F drop to find the midnight temperature: °F.
Show Solution
- Start with the initial negative balance of -$. A deposit adds to the account, so add $: . Marcus now has $. A purchase subtracts from the account, so subtract $: . His new balance is $.
Tips & Strategies
- For Quantitative Comparison questions, quickly check the signs before doing the math! If Column A turns out to be positive and Column B turns out to be negative, you don't even need to calculate the exact numbers to know Column A is bigger.
- When you see minus a negative, like , turn those two minus signs into one giant plus sign: .
- If a question involves a negative fraction, remember that is the exact same thing as or . The negative sign can float to the top, bottom, or middle!
Common Mistakes
- Watch out for multiplying three negative numbers! Two negatives make a positive, but that third negative turns the whole answer negative again. For example, .
- Don't confuse adding negatives with multiplying negatives. is (you just owe more money), but is positive .
Frequently Asked Questions
Is zero a positive or negative number?
Zero is completely neutral! It is neither positive nor negative. It sits right in the exact middle of the number line.
How do I easily remember the rules for adding and subtracting?
Think of money! Positive numbers are money you have in your pocket, and negative numbers are money you owe a friend. If you have $5 but owe $8 (which is ), you still owe $3, so the answer is .
Are there a lot of negative numbers on the ISEE?
Yes! The ISEE loves testing integers in both the Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematics Achievement sections. It's one of their favorite ways to test your attention to detail.
What if I get confused during the test?
Draw a quick number line on your scratch paper! It only takes a few seconds and gives you a great visual way to see if you are moving left (getting smaller) or right (getting bigger).