Lesson · Grade 7 · Mathematics
Adding Integers with Counters and Zero Pairs
- Grade 7
- Mathematics
- 58 s
- British Columbia
- BC7-MA-09
The video works out 4 + (−7) by showing 4 as positive counters and −7 as negative counters, and explains that one positive and one negative counter make a zero pair worth 0. It matches the counters into 4 zero pairs and removes them, which leaves 3 negative counters, so the answer is −3, and it ends on the recap "Remove zero pairs, then count what is left".
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In one sentence
The question this lesson answers
What is 4 plus negative 7?
A positive counter is worth positive 1.
Transcript
What the lesson says
What is 4 plus negative 7?
A positive counter is worth positive 1.
A negative counter is worth negative 1.
Show 4 with 4 positive counters.
Show negative 7 with 7 negative counters.
One positive counter and one negative counter make a zero pair.
Together they are worth 0, because 1 plus negative 1 equals 0.
Match each positive counter with a negative counter.
That makes 4 zero pairs.
Remove the zero pairs, because they do not change the total.
3 negative counters are left, and together they make negative 3.
So 4 plus negative 7 equals negative 3.
To add integers, remove the zero pairs and count what is left.
Curriculum
Where this fits
- British Columbia, Grade 7
Mathematics, Number: operations with integersBC7-MA-09
Previous: Adding integers on a number lineNext: Subtracting integers: add the opposite
The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.
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