Negative numbers
The lift, token pairs and the number line.
Learn with Kutty
Go one screen at a time. Press Next when you are ready. Tap 🔊 Read to me to listen.
Negative numbers are less than zero. They sit to the left of 0.
Look: Start at −4. Add 7: move 7 steps right. You land on 3.
✏️ Your turn!
Type your answer and press Check. Kutty will tell you if it is right.
1−5 + 9 = ?
23 − 10 = ?
3Smallest first: 2, −5, 0, −1
! Careful!
✗Thinking −8 is bigger than −3.
✓Further left is smaller: −8 < −3.
✗−2 − (−5) = −7.
✓Minus a minus is plus: −2 + 5 = 3.
See the whole lesson on one page
Negative numbers are less than zero. They sit to the left of 0.
Adding moves right on the number line. Taking away moves left. Taking away a negative is the same as adding: two minuses make a plus.
Think of it like thisOn a cold mountain the temperature can go below 0: −3°C means 3 degrees below zero. A lift can go below the ground floor too.
- −5
- Negative five: 5 below zero.
Solved together
It was −3°C at 6 am. It warmed up 8 degrees, then cooled 7 degrees at night. What was the night temperature?
Start at −3. Warmer means move right 8.
−3 + 8 = 5Cooler means move left 7.
5 − 7 = −2
AnswerThe night temperature was −2°C.
Now practise it
Kanakku makes new questions on negative numbers every time. It shows the working and gives a hint when you are stuck.