What Are Negative Numbers?

Hello, Year 4! Today, we’re going to learn about negative numbers. Negative numbers are numbers that are less than zero. We often use them to show things like temperatures below freezing or levels below sea level.

Understanding Negative Numbers

Think of a number line. A number line is like a straight path where we can see numbers in order.

  • Positive Numbers: These are numbers greater than zero, like 1, 2, 3, and so on.
  • Zero: This is a special number. It is neither positive nor negative.
  • Negative Numbers: These are numbers less than zero, like -1, -2, -3, and so on.

Here’s a simple number line to help you visualise:

 -3  -2  -1   0   1   2   3

Examples of Negative Numbers

  1. Temperature: If it is 3 degrees above zero, we write it as +3. If it is 2 degrees below zero, we write it as -2.
  2. Elevations: A mountain peak may be 1,000 metres above sea level (written as +1,000), while the Dead Sea is about 430 metres below sea level (written as -430).

Key Rules to Remember

  1. More Negative: The further away a negative number is from zero, the smaller it is. For example, -5 is smaller than -2.
  2. Adding Negative Numbers: When you add a negative number, it makes the number smaller. For example, ( 3 + (-2) = 1 ).
  3. Subtracting Negative Numbers: When you subtract a negative number, it makes the number bigger. For example, ( 3 – (-2) = 5 ).

Tips and Tricks

  • Think of a Thermometer: If the temperature drops, the number goes lower (more negative). If it rises, the number goes higher (less negative).
  • Use a Number Line: When adding or subtracting, you can use a number line to see how the numbers change.

Questions on Negative Numbers

Easy Level Questions

  1. What is -1 on the number line?
  2. What is 0 + (-3)?
  3. Which is smaller: -2 or -5?
  4. What does -4 mean?
  5. What is 5 + (-2)?
  6. Which number is greater: -1 or -3?
  7. What is -7 + 4?
  8. What does -10 represent?
  9. What is 3 – 5?
  10. What is -6 + 2?
  11. What is the opposite of -3?
  12. What is -2 + -2?
  13. What number is 1 less than -3?
  14. What is -1 + 1?
  15. Is -5 greater than -6?
  16. What is 0 – 4?
  17. What number comes before -1?
  18. What is -8 + 3?
  19. What does -2 + 0 equal?
  20. Is -10 positive or negative?

Medium Level Questions

  1. What is -3 + (-4)?
  2. If you start at -2 and move 5 steps to the right, where do you land?
  3. What is -5 – (-2)?
  4. What is -6 + 3 + (-1)?
  5. How many numbers are there between -3 and 0?
  6. What is -9 + 6?
  7. If it is -2 degrees and it warms up by 5 degrees, what is the new temperature?
  8. What is -3 – 7?
  9. What is the difference between -5 and -2?
  10. What would -4 – 3 equal?
  11. What is -1 + (-1) + (-1)?
  12. What is the sum of -6 and -3?
  13. If I have -2 apples and I eat 1, how many do I have?
  14. What is -10 + 10?
  15. What is 2 – (-5)?
  16. What is -8 – (-4)?
  17. What is -7 + (-2) + 1?
  18. What happens to -4 when you add 4?
  19. What number is 2 more than -5?
  20. What is -3 + 2 + (-1)?

Hard Level Questions

  1. Calculate: -5 + 10 – 3.
  2. If you have -2 and you subtract -4, what do you get?
  3. Find the result of (-8) – (2 + 3).
  4. What is the product of -3 and 4?
  5. If it is -5 degrees and it drops another 7 degrees, what is the temperature?
  6. What is -9 – (-3) – 2?
  7. If you take -10 and add -5 and then subtract 7, what is the final answer?
  8. Solve: -2 + (-3) + (-4) + 5.
  9. If you have -12 and you gain 8, what is your balance?
  10. What is -6 + (3 – 8)?
  11. How many steps are there from -5 to 5 on a number line?
  12. Solve: 10 – (-6) + (-4).
  13. If I have -15 and I give away 3, what do I have left?
  14. What is (-1) x 7?
  15. What is the sum of -2, -3, and -5?
  16. How many negative numbers are between -10 and 0?
  17. What is -4 + (-6) + 5?
  18. If you have -8 and you double it, what do you get?
  19. Calculate: -9 + 3 – (-2).
  20. If I start at -3 and I go down another 6, where do I end up?

Answers and Explanations

Easy Level Answers

  1. -1 is one step to the left of 0.
  2. 0 + (-3) = -3.
  3. -5 is smaller than -2.
  4. -4 means 4 below zero.
  5. 5 + (-2) = 3.
  6. -1 is greater than -3.
  7. -7 + 4 = -3.
  8. -10 represents 10 below zero.
  9. 3 – 5 = -2.
  10. -6 + 2 = -4.
  11. The opposite of -3 is +3.
  12. -2 + -2 = -4.
  13. 1 less than -3 is -4.
  14. -1 + 1 = 0.
  15. -5 is greater than -6.
  16. 0 – 4 = -4.
  17. The number before -1 is -2.
  18. -8 + 3 = -5.
  19. -2 + 0 = -2.
  20. -10 is negative.

Medium Level Answers

  1. -3 + (-4) = -7.
  2. You land at +3.
  3. -5 – (-2) = -3.
  4. -6 + 3 + (-1) = -4.
  5. There are 3 numbers (-2, -1, 0).
  6. -9 + 6 = -3.
  7. The new temperature is +3.
  8. -3 – 7 = -10.
  9. The difference is 3.
  10. -4 – 3 = -7.
  11. -1 + (-1) + (-1) = -3.
  12. -6 + -3 = -9.
  13. You have -3 apples.
  14. -10 + 10 = 0.
  15. 2 – (-5) = 7.
  16. -8 – (-4) = -4.
  17. -7 + (-2) + 1 = -8.
  18. -4 + 4 = 0.
  19. 2 more than -5 is -3.
  20. -3 + 2 + (-1) = -2.

Hard Level Answers

  1. -5 + 10 – 3 = 2.
  2. -2 – (-4) = 2.
  3. (-8) – (5) = -13.
  4. -3 x 4 = -12.
  5. The temperature is -12 degrees.
  6. -9 – (-3) – 2 = -8.
  7. Final answer is -14.
  8. -2 + (-3) + (-4) + 5 = -4.
  9. You have -4.
  10. -6 + (3 – 8) = -11.
  11. There are 10 steps.
  12. 10 – (-6) + (-4) = 12.
  13. You have -18.
  14. (-1) x 7 = -7.
  15. The sum is -10.
  16. There are 10 negative numbers.
  17. -4 + (-6) + 5 = -5.
  18. You get -16.
  19. -9 + 3 – (-2) = -4.
  20. You end at -9.

I hope you enjoyed learning about negative numbers! Keep practicing, and they will become easier to understand.