DIRECTED NUMBERS

POSITIVE NUMBERS

These are numbers such as:

3 which can be written as +3

46 which can be written as +46
14.67 which can be written as +14.67
a which can be written as +a

RULE

Any number or letter, which is written without a sign is a positive number. Positive numbers may
contain a plus sign, but it is common to see them with no sign at all.

NEGATIVE NUMBERS

These are numbers (and letters) which have a minus sign in front of them:

minus 3 is written – 3
minus 46 is written – 46
minus 14.67 is written -14.67
minus a is written –a

A negative number or letter always has a minus sign in front of it.

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING DIRECTED NUMBERS

As you can see all numbers have a direction – positive or negative. This is best shown, at this stage,
by using a number line and doing addition and subtraction along the number line.

Number Line

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5

The number line is infinitely long, because the set of positive and negative numbers has no end. The
line drawn on page 1 is just a short part of the number line.

ADDITION (using the number line)

Example 1

If you start on 0 and add 3, you move 3 places to the right, and your answer is +3.

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Example 2

Start at +1 and add 3. Your answer is +4.

Example 3

Start at -1 and add 3. Your answer is +2.

Example 4

Start at -2 and add 3. Your answer is +1.

When you add, you move to the right along the number line, when you subtract, you move to the
left along the number line.

SUBTRACTION

Example 5

Start at 0 and subtract 1. Your answer is -1.

Example 6

Start at 0 and subtract 2. Your answer is -2.

Example 7

Start at -1 and subtract 2. Your answer is -3.

Example 8

Start at +1 and subtract 2. Your answer is -1.

Draw a number line which goes from -20 through 0 up to +20. Make sure that the distance
between each point is the same (one unit).

Try the examples shown above, then some of your own to prove that it really works!

IS THERE A FASTER WAY OF ADDING AND SUBTRACTING DIRECTED NUMBERS?

Yes! There are certain rules, which when followed, will make these operations easy. They apply every
time with numbers and letters.

Example 1

Another way of writing 0 add 3 is given here. Brackets are placed round each number and the
corresponding sign,

(0) + (+3) and

written out fully is 0 + 3

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 Answer = 3.

Notice that the brackets have been removed in the second line. You are advised to write the
second line for every example to avoid any confusion.

Notice the + sign in front of the second bracket.

Also, as with a number or a letter, if a bracket has no sign in front (like the first bracket) you must
assume that it is positive.

Example 2

+1 add 3
becomes (+1) + (+3)
2nd line = +1 +3
= +4

Example 3
-1 add 3
becomes (-1) + (+3)
2nd line = -1 + 3
= +2

Example 4
-2 add 3
becomes (-2) + (+3)
2nd line = -2 + 3
= +1

REMEMBER

Look carefully at the way the examples have been ‘translated’ and written down using brackets.

Look carefully at the signs. You will see that where there is a plus sign before a bracket the sign inside
the bracket remains the same. This is an important rule which you must remember.

In the second line there are only numbers with their signs (no brackets, no extra signs).

If the signs are different, write down in the answer the sign of the bigger number and subtract the
numbers.

But if the signs are the same, write that sign in your answer and add the numbers.

a) (+5) + (+4)
= +5 +4

Signs are the same (like signs). Put that sign down and ADD the numbers.
= +9

b) (+10) + (+7)
= +10 +7

Signs are like. Put that sign down and ADD the numbers.
= +17

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c) (+14) + (-4)
= +14 -4

Signs are different (unlike signs). Put the sign of the greater number down and SUBTRACT the
numbers.
= +10

d) (-20) + (+10)
= -20 +10
= -10

Signs are unlike. Put down the sign of the greater number. Subtract the numbers. Take special
note of:
e) (+10) + (-10)
= +10 -10
= 0

f) (-12) – (-12)
= -12 +12
= 0

Example 5

0 minus 1
becomes (0) – (+1)

watch carefully!
= 0 -1

The minus sign in front of the second bracket changes the sign inside the second bracket.
(-becomes + and + becomes -).

The same rules apply now with regard to like and unlike signs so the answer is -1.

Example 6

0 minus 2
becomes (0) – (+2)
= 0 -2
= -2

Example 7

-2 subtract 2
= (-2) – (+2)
= -2 -2
= -4

Example 8

1 take away 2
= (+1) – (+2)
= +1 -2

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 = -1
SUMMARY OF RULES

1. Positive numbers, letters or brackets need not have a plus sign in front of them, e.g.

3 = +3
d = +d
(+16) = +(+16) = +16

2. Negative numbers, letters or brackets always have a minus sign in front of them, e.g.

-d
-(+7) = -7

3. A plus sign in front of a bracket allows the sign inside the bracket to remain the same.

4. A minus sign in front of a bracket means that the sign inside the bracket must change (+ to – and
– to +).

5. If numbers have different (unlike) signs then write the sign of the bigger number in the answer and
subtract the numbers.

TWO TERMS OR MORE

You may have more than two terms in questions. There are two ways of tackling this type of
question

(+12) – (+4) + (-10)

Always write out the second line as follows:

+12 -4 -10

+12 -14 = -2 add together numbers with the same sign OR proceed along the line one number at
a time

+12 -4 = +8 (first two terms)

+8 – 10 = -2 (answer from first line, then third term)

The rules do not change if there are more than two terms in the question. You carry on in an
orderly way, one step at a time, to solve any problem.

Armed with these hints, try these for yourself. Do not be afraid to do these on your number line
and then write them out as shown above.

Exercise 1
1. (+3) + (+9) 2. (+10) + (-5)
3. (-15) + (+2) 4. (-20) + (-20)
5. (+13) – (+10) 6. (+24) – (-12)
7. (-21) – (+21) 8. (-21) – (-21)

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9. (+12) + (-12) – (-12) 10. (+100) – (-50) + (+20)

Before going on to multiplication of directed numbers:-

REMEMBER – when you see a bracket, everything INSIDE the bracket is multiplied by the number or
letter with the sign which is outside the bracket.

MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION OF DIRECTED NUMBERS

MULTIPLICATION

POSITIVE multiplied by POSITIVE = +

NEGATIVE multiplied by NEGATIVE = +
_____________________________________

POSITIVE multiplied by NEGATIVE = -

NEGATIVE multiplied by POSITIVE = -
_____________________________________

+ x + = + and – x - = +
_____________________________________

+ x - = - and – x + = -
_____________________________________

So, (+3) x (+4) = +12

(- 3) x (-4) = +12

(+3) x (-4) = -12

(-3) x (+4) = -12

REMEMBER (+3)2 and (-3)2 BOTH EQUAL +9

Written out fully, (+3)(+3) and (-3)(-3)

(Remember ( )( ) means times)

(+10)2 and (-10)2 = 100

Written out fully, (+10) (+10) and (-10) (-10).

This is important.

DIVISION

POSITIVE divided by POSITIVE = +

NEGATIVE divided by NEGATIVE = +
_______________________________

POSITIVE divided by NEGATIVE = -

NEGATIVE divided by POSITIVE = -

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_______________________________

 
= + and =+
 
_______________________________

 
= - and =-
 
_______________________________

 10  10
So = -2 = -2
5 5

SUMMARY OF RULES

1. When multiplying or dividing like signs, the answer will be positive.

2. When multiplying or dividing unlike signs, the answer will be negative.

3. Multiply or divide numbers as normal.

Exercise 2

1. 3x4 2. -3 x -4

3. (-10) (-4) 4. (+3)2

5. (-4)2 6. (-12) (+3)

7. +15 ÷ +5 8. -15 ÷ -5

9. +15 ÷ -5 10. +1000 ÷ -10

11. +12 ÷ -6 12. -36 ÷ +6

13. +24 ÷ -6 14. +16 ÷ -3

15. +14 ÷ -3 16. -125 ÷ -5

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ANSWERS

Exercise 1

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING

1. Becomes +3 +9 = +12

2. Becomes +10 – 5 = +5

3. Becomes -15 + 2 = -13

4. Becomes -20 – 20 = -40

5. Becomes +13 -10 = +3

6. Becomes +24 +12 = +36

7. Becomes -21 – 21 = -42

8. Becomes -21 + 21 = 0

9. Becomes +12 – 12 + 12 = + 12

10. Becomes +100 + 50 + 20 = +170

Exercise 2

MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION

1. +12 2. +12 3. +40 4. +9

5. +16 6. -36 7. +3 8. +3

9. -3 10. -100 11. -2 12. -6

13. -4 14. -5⅓ 15. -4⅔ 16. +25

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