-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 counting negatively counting positively
Any number above zero is a positive number. Positive numbers are written with no sign or a + sign in front of them and they are counted from zero to the right.

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 counting negatively counting positively
Any number below zero is a negative number. Negative numbers are written with a - sign in front of them and they are counted from zero to the left.
Always look at the sign in front of a number to see if it is positive or negative.

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 counting negatively counting positively
Positive numbers get bigger the further we move right, so 5 is bigger than 2.
Negative numbers get smaller the further we move left, so -5 is smaller than -2.

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 counting negatively counting positively
Which word, “bigger” or “smaller”, would fit correctly
In each of these gaps?

As you extend a number line showing negative numbers, they seem to get “bigger.”
-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2

-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
The numbers seem to increase in value as they go down the number line.
But as the negative number gets bigger, the value gets lower . -10 is a larger number than -5, so it is further below zero. If you look at the number line you can see that -10 is less than -5.

a d m
-10 -4 -2 0 2 4 s w e
8
What value is letter w?
What value is letter a?
Which value is bigger -10 or 8?
Even though 10 is a bigger number than 8 , 8 is bigger because 10 is negative .

If it helps you remember, think about the weather. As temperature gets lower the negative numbers seem to get bigger.
o
Spring 7 C o
Fall -4 C o
Winter -12 C

When the weather changes the temperature can go up or down. If a temperature goes up, gets warmer, it is a temperature increase . If a temperature goes down, gets colder, it is a temperature decrease .

During the summer when you wake up, the morning o temperature could be 3 C. By lunchtime it is up o to 10 C.
15
10
5
0
-5
15
10
5
0
-5
This is a temperature increase of o
7 C .

o
In the early afternoon the temperature is 15 C. By early o evening the temperature goes down to 12 C.
15
10
5
0
-5
15
10
5
0
-5
This is a temperature decrease of o
3 C .

But what happens if we have negative temperatures?
During winter the early morning temperature could o o be -3 C. By lunch it is up to 6 C.
15
10
5
0
-5
15
10
5
0
-5 o o o
From -3 C to 0 C is 3 C.
o o o
From 0 C to 6 C is a further 6 C.
o o
This is a temperature o increase of 9 C .

o
In the early afternoon the temperature is 3 C. By early o evening the temperature goes down to -5 C.
15
10
5
0
-5
15
10
5
0
-5 o o o
From 3 C to 0 C is 3 C.
o o o
From 0 C to -5 C is a further 5 C.
o o o
The total of 3 C + 5 C makes 8 C.
This is a temperature o decrease of 8 C .

14
10
6
What temperature is shown on the thermometer?
o
2 C
C o

10
0
35
25
What temperature is shown on the thermometer?
o
-5 C
C o