Practise Working with Negative Numbers

A negative number is a number smaller than zero.

This can be clearly seen on the number line below.

One of the activities you will be asked to do is arrange integers in descending order (largest first).

Example:

-9    0    6    22    -24    -1

Look at the positive numbers first.

The largest positive number is 22, then 6, then 0.

Then, look at the negative numbers.

The largest negative number is -1, then -9, and finally, the smallest is -24.

The numbers in descending order are:

22    6    0    -1    -9    -24

You will also be asked to calculate with negative numbers mentally.

Example:

The temperature on Monday morning is -4°C. The temperature on Friday morning is 1°C.

How much warmer is it on Friday morning?

You may be able to do this type of calculation in your head or it may help you to use a number line:

Start at -4 and count on until you get to 1.

Answer: 5°C

Now let's move on to some practice questions.