Integers

Integers Are A Challenge

For Numeracy you need to show me once that you can do integers.  This is tougher as integers represents all numbers on a number line that have no fraction or decimal.

They can be positive or negative.
e.g. Yes Integers
        153
        3,998
        -45
        -1,000,000

e.g. No Not Integers
         21.5
         - 1/2           (minus a half)

Because this topic integers is in a portfolio there has to be a real life context.  Negative numbers are a challenge in real life.   e.g. I can show you 20 pens, I can show you 8 pens, I can even show you zero pens.  But I can't show you negative five pens.  

The best thing to use is the idea of money.  Negative money is when you owe someone money.  E.g. my bank account can show I have $100, my bank account can show that I have $33.  It can also show that I have minus $25 (i.e. I have over drawn the account - spent too much).  

Here are the basic rules of Integers...

Real life examples can be thinking about how your real life finances (net worth) will look like after you've taken out a student loan, overdraft, car loan or even a mortgage.  Most young people will have a negative net work (all the things you own - all the things you owe) from about the age of 18 to 40.  That's when they'll have finally paid off their debts.  

[I'm aware that the last paragraph has lots of technical financial terms in there so will have to take the time to explain this stuff].