Positive and negative numbers
Understand what positive and negative numbers represent and order them.
Objective
Understand what positive and negative numbers represent and order them.
What it means
Positive numbers are greater than zero; negative numbers are less than zero. They sit on opposite sides of zero on the number line.
Key terms
- Positive number
- A number greater than zero, written with or without a + sign.
- Negative number
- A number less than zero, written with a - sign.
- Number line
- A line showing numbers in order, with zero in the middle.
Rules to remember
- On a number line, numbers get larger moving right and smaller moving left.
- Every negative number is less than every positive number.
- The further left a number is, the smaller its value.
Step by step
- 1Locate zeroZero is the starting point that separates positives and negatives.
- 2Compare positionsThe number further right on the line is greater.
Common mistakes
- Thinking -8 is greater than -2 because 8 is a bigger digit.
- Forgetting zero separates positives and negatives.
Tips
- Picture a thermometer: lower readings are more negative.
- The number line never lies — trust position, not digit size.