Integers — Positive & Negative Numbers
Explore the number line, master the four operations on integers, and learn the sign rules — then test yourself.
What are integers?
Integers are whole numbers and their opposites: …, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, …
They include negative numbers, zero, and positive numbers.
They do not include fractions or decimals.
Every integer has a place on the number line.
Numbers to the right are greater; numbers to the left are smaller.
The distance of a number from zero is its absolute value.
Adding & subtracting integers
Adding a positive moves you right; adding a negative moves you left.
Subtracting is the same as adding the opposite: a − b = a + (−b).
Watch each operation play out on the number line below.
Multiplying & dividing integers
For multiplication and division, only the signs decide whether the answer is positive or negative.
Same signs give a positive; different signs give a negative.
The same rules apply to division. For example, −12 ÷ 3 = −4, while −12 ÷ −3 = 4.
Test Yourself — 15 Exams
Choose an exam below. Each one has 10 questions, and every answer comes with a step-by-step solution — even when you get it right.
Key takeaways
1. Integers are positive numbers, negative numbers, and zero. No fractions.
2. On the number line, right is bigger, left is smaller. So −1 is bigger than −5.
3. To subtract, add the opposite. Example: 4 − 9 = 4 + (−9) = −5.
4. Multiply or divide: same signs → positive, different signs → negative. Example: −6 × −2 = 12.