Cross to the other side of zero and discover negative numbers — useful for temperatures, depths, and debts.
Negative numbers sit on the opposite side of zero from positive numbers on a number line. They're useful for representing things below a reference point — like temperatures below freezing, or floors below ground level.
If the temperature is 5°C and it drops by 8 degrees, what is the new temperature?
5 − 8 = −3°C
A submarine is at sea level (0m) and dives 40m down. How do we represent its position?
−40m
On a number line, numbers get smaller as you move left. So a negative number closer to zero is actually greater than one further away — for example, −2 is greater than −5.
Which is greater: −3 or −7?
−3, because it's closer to zero on the number line
Arrange in order from smallest to largest: −5, 2, −1, 0
−5, −1, 0, 2
1. If the temperature is 3°C and it drops by 10 degrees, what is the new temperature?
2. Which is greater: −8 or −2?
3. Arrange in order from smallest to largest: 4, −6, 0, −2
4. A lift is at floor 0 and goes down 3 floors to the basement. How is that floor represented?
5. Which is smaller: −15 or −9?
From Patterns in Mathematics to The Other Side of Zero — the whole Class 6 journey is done. Onwards to even bigger ideas!
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