A manipulative for integer operations - negative number adding tool

If your students need help with adding and subtracting integers, the manipulative in this post will help. I developed it as mart of my graduate thesis and it decreased student error on integer operations by 62%.

Integer Operations Manipulative


Working with negative numbers has always been a sticking point for my students, whether they are just learning about integers or they are solving equations or factoring quadratics. Why? 

The relationship between positive and negative numbers is a slippery one with loose rules. When we multiply and divide, we have strict rules that concrete thinkers really seem to like. With adding and subtracting, the "rules" are a lot more abstract.

If your students need help with adding and subtracting integers, the manipulative in this post will help. I developed it as mart of my graduate thesis and it decreased student error on integer operations by 62%.

I developed this tool as part of my thesis to help my students see the relationship between negative and positive numbers and it significantly cut down on the errors they were making. 

Here's a quick video showing how the manipulative works:



This manipulative was a flexible number line with a pivot at zero. Essentially, it allowed students to use the absolute values of the numbers they were adding or subtracting to find differences. 

Example: 

If your students need help with adding and subtracting integers, the manipulative in this post will help. I developed it as mart of my graduate thesis and it decreased student error on integer operations by 62%.

If we use 7 - 12 as an example, we can think of the 7 and the -12 each as integers (nouns), instead of two integers with a subtraction (verb) between them. This usually goes over pretty well with students because it makes the numbers feel more concrete. 

If your students need help with adding and subtracting integers, the manipulative in this post will help. I developed it as mart of my graduate thesis and it decreased student error on integer operations by 62%.

We find 7 and -12 on the number line and we figure out which integer is farther from zero. Since -12 is farther, our answer will be negative. 

If your students need help with adding and subtracting integers, the manipulative in this post will help. I developed it as mart of my graduate thesis and it decreased student error on integer operations by 62%.

Next comes the fun part. Once we identify that our answer will be negative, we fold the number line in half.

If your students need help with adding and subtracting integers, the manipulative in this post will help. I developed it as mart of my graduate thesis and it decreased student error on integer operations by 62%.

And then we count the spaces between the two numbers to get 5. This, combined with our previous step, gives us 7 - 12 = -5. 

My students' ability to work with negative integers, even after the manipulative was removed, improved by 62% and my thesis was [eventually, after many, many edits] accepted in May 2011.

When I'm at the board and a problem like "7 - 12" comes up, I don't always have the time to stop and show students on the ruler how we get -5. So, I ask this string of questions:

"[In 7 - 12] Which number is farther from zero?"

-12

"OK, so our answer will be negative. How much farther?"

5

"OK, so our answer will be?..."

-5
  
These questions work really well in the moment. When students are working on classwork and there is more time, I like to show them the problem on the ruler if they are having trouble. This usually happens on a 1-to-1 basis. 

Because manipulatives are so hands-on, they allow students to see and feel the numbers, which always seems to stick with them better.

UPDATE: I added a digital version of the manipulative in Google Slides. You can see how it works in this video:


Just like the printable manipulative, the digital version works with absolute value. Students drag and drop the arrows to their two integers and count the space between (comparing the absolute values of the two integers). Simple directions are typed on the slide.

You can make a bunch of copies of the slide to create an assignment for students. They can then use the number line to solve their integer equations. 

Integer Operations Manipulative - print and digital for distance learning
Integer Operations Manipulative

If you find that your students are struggling with integer operations, this integer operations manipulative is available for download. Both the print and digital versions are included in the same download. I like to laminate the printable version so that students can write on it with dry erase markers. This helps some students keep an accurate count of the spaces between numbers. 

Below are a few integers activities that I think your students will enjoy.


Integers digital math escape room

To meet the needs of classrooms with technology, I've been making digital math escape rooms, like this one for adding and subtracting integers. In each of the escape room activities, students must open 5 locks by answering 20 questions. In this integers escape room, students must combine three integers in each problem.

Adding and subtracting integers pennant
Integers math pennant activity

For a fun integer operations activity that doubles as student-created classroom décor, you may like this integers math pennant activityStudents evaluate three problems on each pennant. The three problems are related to keep the focus on those pesky signs. 

Adding and subtracting integers partner scavenger hunt activity now comes in an interactive online Google Slides version
Integers partner scavenger hunt

This integers partner scavenger hunt is a self-checking activity and also includes a link to an online interactive Google Slides version.

multiplying and dividing integers poster

This fun poster was a teacher collaboration for multiplying and dividing integers, and is free in my Dropbox here.


Integers can be tricky, but they are one of those topics that will eventually click. 













8 comments:

  1. I like the idea of the integer manipulative. How do you use the ruler when finding the same number? Ex. -8 - 8 on the ruler?

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    Replies
    1. There are directions on the back for same-sign problems. I explain it to my students this way... when we were kids and were adding 8 + 8, we didn't think about signs because they were the same. Now with -8 + -8 the signs are still the same, so we add and keep the sign like we did when we were younger.

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  2. Fantastic idea. Have you done any further research with your hinged number line?
    You might be interested in a Stanford study that was done in 2015 in neuroscience regarding understanding negative numbers and how the brain uses symmetry to understand abstract concepts. https://news.stanford.edu/2015/07/06/symmetry-math-schwartz-070615/
    Thanks for sharing this and your thesis!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing, Linda! I concluded my research in 2010 and agree that symmetry is how our brains work with integers. This is an interesting article. Thanks again!

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  3. Thank you for sharing. I love the idea with the ruler.

    I'm gonna be doing a Math Madness Session soon with nothing but Math for two hours.

    I'll even get them to make their own ruler.

    Thanks again,
    snmyl6@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Having them make their own rulers is such a great idea. I feel it will help the kids become familiar with it before using it on integer problems. And Math Madness sounds so awesome! I would love to be a visitor in your class that day!

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  4. How do you subtract a negative with the ruler? EX. 4 - (-6)?

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    Replies
    1. I teach -(-6) as "the opposite of (-) negative 6 (-6), which then turns to +6. We'd then get the 4 back in as 4 + 6. There are sign examples on the back of the ruler for situations when signs are the same (or the same in disguise like your example).

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