Negative Numbers
Work with integers and signed numbers
Start with the basics and progress through 7 lessons. Each lesson builds on the previous one.
0 of 7 lessons done
Test Your Knowledge
10 questions, new mix each time (from 113)
In This Topic (7 lessons)
Introduction to Negative Numbers
Learn what negative numbers are, where they appear in real life, and how to place them on a number line.
Adding and Subtracting Integers
Learn how to add and subtract positive and negative numbers using number line strategies and rules.
Comparing Integers
Learn how to compare positive and negative numbers using inequality symbols and the number line.
Ordering Integers
Learn how to arrange integers from least to greatest and greatest to least.
Multiplying and Dividing Integers
Learn the rules for multiplying and dividing positive and negative numbers.
Absolute Value
Learn what absolute value means and how to find the distance from zero.
Integer Word Problems
Learn to translate real-world situations into integer operations and solve them step by step.
Negative numbers extend our number system below zero, allowing us to represent temperatures below freezing, debts, elevations below sea level, and many other real-world quantities. Understanding negative numbers is essential for algebra, science, and financial literacy.
In this topic, you will learn to visualize negative numbers on a number line and understand their relationship to positive numbers. You will master operations with integers: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative numbers. The rules for these operations become intuitive with practice.
Our lessons connect negative numbers to contexts that make sense: temperature changes, bank accounts, and coordinate systems. You will develop confidence working with integers that is essential for all advanced mathematics.
What You'll Learn
- Represent integers on a number line
- Compare and order positive and negative integers
- Add integers using number line and rules
- Subtract integers by adding the opposite
- Multiply and divide integers using sign rules
- Evaluate expressions with multiple operations
- Solve real-world problems involving integers
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a negative times a negative equal a positive?
Think of it as reversing a reversal. If negative means opposite direction, then the opposite of an opposite is the original direction. Mathematically, it preserves the pattern: -3 × 2 = -6, -3 × 1 = -3, -3 × 0 = 0, so -3 × -1 = 3.
How do I subtract a negative number?
Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive. For example, 5 - (-3) = 5 + 3 = 8. Think of it as removing a debt, which increases what you have.
What is the absolute value?
Absolute value is the distance from zero on the number line, always positive. For example, |-7| = 7 and |7| = 7. It measures magnitude regardless of direction.