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Maths•JHS Number & Proportion

Integers and exponents

Junior High 6 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What integers and exponents means

You learn how to work with negative numbers and powers in clear steps. This helps you solve number questions quickly and avoid sign errors in later Maths work.

What you will practise

  • Add and subtract integers on a number line
  • Multiply and divide negative numbers correctly
  • Use the rules of indices for the same base
  • Simplify expressions with powers and brackets
  • Check answers by keeping track of signs

Before you start

You should already be comfortable with whole numbers, number lines, multiplication tables, and basic order of operations. It also helps to know what a power, base, and index mean.

Not confident yet? Work through Ratio, rates and proportion first.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

Evaluate (−7) + 12.

  • −19
  • −5
  • 5
  • 19
Answer: 5

Working: Start at −7 and move 12 to the right on the number line: −7 + 12 = 5.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Forgetting that a negative and a negative give a positive in multiplication
  • Adding indices when the bases are different instead of the same
  • Mixing up subtraction of a negative number with simple addition
  • Leaving answers unsimplified instead of writing the final power or integer

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES Basic 7 to 9 syllabusBECE

This topic usually appears in Junior High School number work, before learners move on to ratio, rates and proportion. It supports BECE preparation by strengthening number skills needed across many algebra questions.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other JHS Number & Proportion skills in Maths, at the same point in the course.

Other Maths topics

Picture Addition & SubtractionEarly NumeracyNumber BasicsSHS Core MathematicsUniversity MathematicsAlgebra

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Exams that assess integers and exponents

Junior High work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the Maths topics that appear on it.

BECEBECE practice questionsFree BECE practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the WASSCE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
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Practise integers and exponents

6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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