Math Academy

Negative Numbers

Introduction

Interpreting Points on a Number Line as Negative Numbers

Representing Negative Numbers on a Number Line

Representing Negative Numbers on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

Interpreting Points on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

Finding Missing Values on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

Prerequisites

Plotting Decimals on Number Lines

Introduction

Negative numbers are numbers to the left of on the number line.

We write a negative number as a number with a sign in front of it.

To find the number, we count the number of jumps between zero and the point on the line.

For example, to represent on a number line, we start at zero and move places to the left:

So the red dot on the number line above represents the number

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Example: Interpreting Points on a Number Line as Negative Numbers

What number is represented by the red dot on the number line below?

EXPLANATION

The number is negative because it is to the left of zero.

To find the number, we count the number of jumps between zero and the red circle.

There is jump between zero and the red circle. So the number shown is

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Practice: Interpreting Points on a Number Line as Negative Numbers

What number is represented by the red dot on the number line above?

a	$1$
b	$-3$
c	$2$
d	$-2$
e	$-1$

Practice: Interpreting Points on a Number Line as Negative Numbers

What number is represented by the red dot on the number line above?

a	$-1.5$
b	$-1$
c	$-2.5$
d	$-2$
e	$-0.5$

Example: Representing Negative Numbers on a Number Line

Represent the number on a number line.

EXPLANATION

The number is negative, so it is to the left of zero.

To plot the number we start at zero and move places to the left.

So the red dot on the number line below represents the number

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Practice: Representing Negative Numbers on a Number Line

Which number line shows the number $-4?$

a
b
c
d
e

Practice: Representing Negative Numbers on a Number Line

Which number line shows the number $-5.5?$

a
b
c
d
e

Representing Negative Numbers on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

Sometimes, each jump on the number line can represent a distance greater than For example, what number is represented by the red dot on the number line below?

To find the number, we count the number of jumps between zero and the red circle.

There are jumps between zero and the red circle, and each jump represents a distance of So the number shown is

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Example: Interpreting Points on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

What number is represented by the red dot on the number line below?

EXPLANATION

The number is negative because it is to the left of zero.

To find the number, we count the number of jumps between zero and the red circle.

There are jumps between zero and the red circle, and each jump represents a distance of So the number shown is

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Practice: Interpreting Points on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

The number represented by the red dot on the number line above is

a
b
c
d
e

Practice: Interpreting Points on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

The number represented by the red dot on the number line above is

a
b
c
d
e

Example: Finding Missing Values on a Number Line Using Steps Larger Than One

From left to right, what are the missing numbers in the number line below?

EXPLANATION

The first number is negative because it is to the left of zero. To find this number, we count the number of jumps between zero and the number.

Each jump represents a distance of and we have jumps. Therefore, this number

The second number is also negative because it is to the left of zero. To find this number, we count the number of jumps between zero and the number.