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The numbers 1,2,3,... etc are called natural numbers or counting numbers. Integers are the natural numbers plus zero plus the negative ( or opposite ) natural numbers. Why do we need negative natural numbers ? For one thing x + 1 = 0 is an equation whose solution is x = -1. We could not solve this equation if we did not have negative integers. So over history these negative numbers came about as a way to solve certain math problems. The numbers 1,2,3,... etc are called natural numbers or counting numbers. Integers are the natural numbers plus zero plus the negative ( or opposite ) natural numbers. Why do we need negative natural numbers ? For one thing x + 1 = 0 is an equation whose solution is x = -1. We could not solve this equation if we did not have negative integers. So over history these negative numbers came about as a way to solve certain math problems.

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Q: Why does every integer have an opposite?
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