Understand negative numbers
Objective. Locate and interpret negative numbers in practical contexts.
- 1. Learn
- 2. Worked example
- 3. Practice
- 4. Feedback
- 5. Continue
Learn: the key idea
Negative numbers are numbers less than zero, written with a minus sign, such as −4. On a number line they sit to the left of zero, and the further left, the smaller the number. They describe real situations: a temperature of −5°C is 5 degrees below freezing, and floor −2 is two floors below ground. Zero is neither positive nor negative.
Worked example
The temperature at midnight is −5°C. By morning it is 3 degrees colder. What is the morning temperature?
- 1Colder means the temperature goes down, so move left on the number line.
- 2Start at −5.
- 3Move 3 places left: −6, −7, −8.
- 4The morning temperature is −8°C.
Answer: −8°C
Concept mastery
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Practice
Practice happens on its own screen, one question at a time. Answers stay hidden until you submit yours, and you can stop and pick up at the same question later.
Start practisingCommon mistake. Many pupils think −8 is bigger than −3 because 8 is bigger than 3. Picture the number line: −8 is further left of zero, so it is smaller and colder.
Your progress
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