Year 4 Maths: Counting Through Zero

Introduction to Counting Through Zero

Hello Year 4! Today, we are going to learn about something really cool in maths called counting through zero. This means we can count not just up and down the number line, but also cross over the point where zero is!

What is Zero?

First, let’s remember what zero is. Zero is a special number. It means “nothing.” When we count, we usually start at 1, but sometimes, we need to count down to zero or even below zero.

Counting Up and Down

Counting Up:

• If we count up from zero, we say:
  • 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…

Counting Down:

• If we count down from zero, we say:
  • 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5…

Key Rules for Counting Through Zero

1. When Counting Up:
   • Start at zero and add one each time.
   • Example: From 0 to 5 is: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2. When Counting Down:
   • Start at zero and subtract one each time.
   • Example: From 0 counting down to -5 is: 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5.
3. Negative Numbers:
   • Numbers below zero are called negative numbers.
   • They can be tricky, but just remember, the further left you go, the smaller the number gets.

Tips for Counting Through Zero

• Use a Number Line: Drawing a number line can really help you see how numbers work around zero. Draw a line, mark zero in the middle, and then add positive numbers on the right and negative numbers on the left.
• Practice: The more you practice counting through zero, the easier it becomes. Try saying the numbers out loud!
• Games: Play counting games with friends or family where you take turns counting up and down.

Questions

Easy Level Questions (1-20)

1. What number comes after 0?
2. What number comes before 0?
3. Count from 0 to 5.
4. Count down from 0 to -3.
5. What is -1 + 1?
6. What is 0 – 2?
7. What number is 3 less than 0?
8. Count from -1 to 3.
9. What is 2 + (-1)?
10. What is 0 + 5?
11. Count from -3 to 0.
12. What number comes after -2?
13. What number comes before -1?
14. Count down from 3 to -1.
15. What is 0 – (-2)?
16. What is -3 + 3?
17. Count from -5 to 0.
18. What is 1 – 2?
19. What is 0 + 0?
20. Count up from -1 to 2.

Medium Level Questions (21-40)

21. What is -1 + (-2)?
22. What is 0 – 5?
23. Count from -4 to 1.
24. What is 4 + (-3)?
25. What is -2 + 2?
26. Count down from 2 to -4.
27. What is 0 – (-3)?
28. What number comes after -5?
29. What number comes before 2?
30. Count from -2 to 2.
31. What is -3 + 5?
32. What is -1 – 1?
33. Count from 0 to -5 and back to 0.
34. What is 5 – 8?
35. What is 0 + (-4)?
36. Count down from 1 to -3.
37. What is -4 + 4?
38. What is -2 – 3?
39. What is 10 – 12?
40. Count from -5 to 5.

Hard Level Questions (41-60)

41. What is -5 – (-2)?
42. What is 0 – 0?
43. Count from -6 to 3.
44. What is -3 + 4 + (-1)?
45. What is 0 – (-5) + 1?
46. Count down from 3 to -6.
47. What is 2 – 2 + (-3)?
48. What is -8 + 3?
49. Count from -10 to 0.
50. What is 6 + (-10)?
51. What is -1 – 2 + 4?
52. What is 5 – 9 + 3?
53. Count up from -7 to 2.
54. What is -3 + -2 + 5?
55. What is 0 – 7 + 3?
56. Count from -9 to 0 and back to -9.
57. What is -1 + 1 – 2?
58. What is 4 – 6 + 2?
59. Count from 0 to -10 and back to 0.
60. What is -6 + 4 + 2?

Answers

Easy Level Answers

1. 1
2. -1
3. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
4. 0, -1, -2, -3
5. 0
6. -2
7. -3
8. -1, 0, 1, 2, 3
9. 1
10. 5
11. -3, -2, -1, 0
12. -1
13. -2
14. 3, 2, 1, 0, -1
15. 2
16. 0
17. -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0
18. -1
19. 0
20. -1, 0, 1, 2

Medium Level Answers

21. -3
22. -5
23. -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1
24. 1
25. 0
26. 2, 1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4
27. 3
28. -4
29. 1
30. -2, -1, 0, 1, 2
31. 2
32. -2
33. -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3
34. -3
35. -4
36. 1, 0, -1, -2, -3
37. 0
38. -5
39. -2
40. -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Hard Level Answers

41. -3
42. 0
43. -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3
44. 0
45. 6
46. 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6
47. -3
48. -5
49. -10, -9, -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0
50. -4
51. 0
52. -2
53. -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2
54. 0
55. -4
56. -9, -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9
57. -2
58. 0
59. -10, -9, -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10
60. 0

Now, practice counting through zero, and you’ll become a counting expert! Happy counting!