Adding Integers with Counters How to use counters

Adding Integers with Counters

How to use counters • White counters represent positive numbers. • Red or shaded counters represent negative numbers. • Lay or draw counters out to represent all of the numbers in the problem. • Pair up negative and positive counters – When you pair up negative and positive counters, they are equal to zero. – These pairs are known as zero pairs. • Move any zero pairs that you have made off to the side. • Count up what you have left and that is your answer.

-9 + 4 9 negative counters + 4 positive counters Get rid of pairs. What do you have left? 5 negative counters Answer = -5

6 + -8 6 positive counters + 8 negative counters Get rid of pairs. What do you have left? 2 negative counters Answer = -2

-2 + 16 2 negative counters + 16 positive counters Get rid of pairs. What do you have left? 14 positive counters Answer = 14

10 + -10 10 positive counters + 10 negative counters Get rid of pairs. What do you have left? 0 units Answer = 0

-5 + -5 5 negative counters + 5 negative counters Get rid of pairs. What do you have left? 10 negative counters Answer = -10

Try these problems using counters! 1. -7 + -5 = -12 6. -8 + 8 = 0 2. -2 + 6 = 4 7. -13 + -4 = -17 3. 8 + -5 = 3 8. -9 + 8 = -1 4. -10 + 3 = -7 9. 10 + -15 = -5 5. -13 + 6 = -7 10. 3 + -3 = 0