Negative Numbers
⭐ MasteredNegative numbers are less than zero. Think of temperatures below freezing: −5°C is colder than −2°C.
The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was about −89°C in Antarctica.
All about Negative Numbers
Negative numbers are numbers smaller than zero. They are written with a minus sign, such as −3.
Temperatures are a common example. −5°C is colder than −2°C, even though 5 is bigger than 2. Adding a negative number is the same as subtracting its positive value, so 3 + (−5) = −2.
When you add a negative number, you move to the left on the number line.
🎮 Try it yourself!
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👀 What the animation shows
This animation shows a number line with a counter moving left and right. Watch how the counter moves below zero for negative numbers, and how adding moves it right while subtracting moves it left.
Real-life uses of Negative Numbers
- Reading temperatures below zero on a weather forecast
- Tracking bank balances that go into debt
- Scoring points in games when you lose a turn
Frequently asked questions about Negative Numbers
Is −10 bigger or smaller than −2?
−10 is smaller, because it is further to the left on the number line.
What is 5 − 8?
−3. Subtracting 8 from 5 takes you three steps past zero to the negative side.
Why is zero neither positive nor negative?
Zero is the point between positive and negative numbers, so it has no sign.