Rational number arithmetic

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1. Adding and subtracting signed numbers

Warm-up

Three quick questions from earlier lessons.

Discover

It is −3-3 °C and the temperature rises 5 degrees. What is it now?

  1. 22 °C
  2. −8-8 °C

Key idea

Add by moving on the number line; subtract by adding the opposite.

Adding a positive number moves right; adding a negative moves left. With different signs, subtract the sizes and keep the sign of the larger one. Subtracting is adding the opposite: a−b=a+(−b)a - b = a + (-b), so a−(−b)=a+ba - (-b) = a + b.

Worked example

−4−(−9)-4 - (-9).

−4+9-4 + 9
Add the opposite.
55
Different signs: 9 − 4, sign of 9.

Your turn, guided

Your turn: −6+(−7)-6 + (-7).

−13-13
Both left.

Practice ★

  1. Compute 7+(−16)7 + (-16).
  2. Compute 9+(−20)9 + (-20).
  1. Compute −9−10-9 - 10.

Watch out!

Practice ★★

  1. Compute 2−(−5)2 - (-5).
  2. Compute 8−(−5)8 - (-5).

Exit ticket

Three questions to check you have got it.

  1. Compute 7+(−16)7 + (-16).
  2. Compute 9+(−20)9 + (-20).
  3. Compute 8+(−15)8 + (-15).

Summary card

Adding and subtracting signed numbers

Move on the number line; subtract = add the opposite.

Watch out: minus a negative is plus.

2. Multiplying and dividing signed numbers

Warm-up

Three quick questions from earlier lessons.

Discover

A tank loses 3 liters every minute (a change of −3-3 per minute). What was the change over the last 4 minutes?

  1. −12-12 liters
  2. 1212 liters

Key idea

Signs for products and quotients.

Same signs give a positive product or quotient; different signs give a negative one. (−a)(−b)=ab(-a)(-b) = ab, (−a)⋅b=−ab(-a) \cdot b = -ab, and division follows the same rules.

Worked example

(−6)(−5)÷(−3)(-6)(-5) \div (-3).

(−6)(−5)=30(-6)(-5) = 30
Same signs.
30÷(−3)=−1030 \div (-3) = -10
Different signs.

Your turn, guided

Your turn: (−48)÷(−6)(-48) \div (-6).

88
Same signs.

Practice ★

  1. Compute (−6)⋅7(-6) \cdot 7.
  2. Compute (−7)⋅11(-7) \cdot 11.
  1. Compute (−4)⋅(−6)(-4) \cdot (-6).

Watch out!

Practice ★★

  1. Compute (−144)÷12(-144) \div 12.
  2. Compute (−120)÷12(-120) \div 12.
  1. Boss problem. At midnight it is 5 °C. The temperature changes by −6-6 °C every hour (it drops 6 degrees per hour).

Exit ticket

Three questions to check you have got it.

  1. Compute (−6)⋅7(-6) \cdot 7.
  2. Compute (−7)⋅11(-7) \cdot 11.
  3. Compute (−11)⋅10(-11) \cdot 10.

Summary card

Multiplying and dividing signed numbers

Same signs: positive. Different signs: negative.

Watch out: negative times negative is positive.

3. Solve linear equations in one variable

Warm-up

Three quick questions from earlier lessons.

Discover

A pizza party costs 40 dollars plus 12 dollars per pizza, and the total is 100 dollars. Which equation fits?

  1. 40+12p=10040 + 12p = 100
  2. 12+40p=10012 + 40p = 100

Key idea

Equivalent equations have the same solutions.

To solve a linear equation, make equivalent equations: add or subtract the same amount on both sides, multiply or divide both sides by the same non-zero number, distribute, collect like terms. Stop when xx is alone.

Worked example

Solve 5x+3=2x+155x + 3 = 2x + 15.

3x+3=153x + 3 = 15
Subtract 2x.
3x=123x = 12
Subtract 3.
x=4x = 4
Divide by 3.

Your turn, guided

Your turn: 3(x+2)=213(x + 2) = 21. Find xx.

x=5x = 5
Divide by 3: x + 2 = 7.

Practice ★

  1. Solve 3x+3=−183x + 3 = -18. x=  ?x = \;?
  2. Solve 8x+14=−268x + 14 = -26. x=  ?x = \;?
  1. Solve 4x+8=3x+94x + 8 = 3x + 9. x=  ?x = \;?

Watch out!

Practice ★★

  1. Solve 6(x+4)=306(x + 4) = 30. x=  ?x = \;?
  2. Solve 3(x+4)=333(x + 4) = 33. x=  ?x = \;?

Exit ticket

Three questions to check you have got it.

  1. Solve 3x+3=−183x + 3 = -18. x=  ?x = \;?
  2. Solve 8x+14=−268x + 14 = -26. x=  ?x = \;?
  3. Solve 4x+4=324x + 4 = 32. x=  ?x = \;?

Summary card

Linear equations

Do the same to both sides until xx is alone.

Watch out: distribute to every term.