Negative Numbers
Introduction to Negative Numbers
A negative number is a number that is less than zero. It has a minus sign (‑) in front of it, like ‑3 or ‑10. Imagine you have a number line: zero is in the middle, positive numbers go to the right, and negative numbers go to the left. This helps us understand where negative numbers are.
Using Negative Numbers
Negative numbers are used in many real-life situations.
- Counting Down: When you count backwards, you are using negative numbers. For example, if you have $10 and you spend $12, you would be $2 short, which can be written as ‑$2.
- Temperature: Below freezing is shown with negatives, such as ‑5°C. This means it is 5 degrees below zero.
- Money: Owing money can be written as a negative amount, like ‑$7. This means you need to pay $7.
Simple Tricks and Practice
Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers
Adding a negative number is the same as subtracting the positive version. For example: 8 + (‑3) = 8 - 3 = 5. Subtracting a negative flips the sign to plus. For example: 4 – (‑2) = 4 + 2 = 6. Let’s practice:
- Start at 0 and move 4 steps left. Where are you? Answer: ‑4.
- If the temperature drops from 2°C to ‑3°C, how many degrees did it change? Answer: 5 degrees. Remember, negative numbers help us describe things that go below a starting point. Keep practicing, and they’ll become easy!