➖❄️ Have you ever seen temperatures below zero on a weather report? Or heard someone say their bank account went below zero? These situations use negative numbers. Negative numbers help us describe values that are less than zero.
Example:
| Number | Type |
|---|---|
| 5 | Positive |
| 2 | Positive |
| 0 | Neither positive nor negative |
| −3 | Negative |
| −8 | Negative |
Numbers can be shown on a number line.
x
● Numbers to the right of 0 are positive.
● Numbers to the left of 0 are negative.
Example order:
−5, −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3
The farther left you go, the smaller the number becomes.
Negative numbers are used in many real-world situations.
Temperature ❄️
If the temperature is −5°C, it means it is 5 degrees below zero.
Elevation 🏔️
Places below sea level can have negative elevation.
Money 💰
If someone owes $10, it can be written as −10.
Negative numbers can also be compared.
Example:
Which is greater?
−3 or −7
Answer:
−3 is greater than −7
Why?
Because −3 is closer to zero.
Problem 1
Which number is smaller?
−2 or −6
Answer:
−6
Problem 2
Which number is greater?
−1 or −4
Answer:
−1
Problem 3
Write three negative numbers.
Example Answer:
−2, −5, −9
Learning negative numbers helps children:
● Understand temperatures below zero
● Learn how numbers extend in both directions
● Prepare for integers and algebra
● Understand real-life measurements and data
Negative numbers are numbers less than zero. They help us describe situations like cold temperatures, debts, and values below zero. Learning negative numbers helps children expand their understanding of how numbers work.