What is a negative number?

A negative number is any number less than zero, written with a minus sign in front, such as -1, -2 or -7. On a number line, negative numbers are found to the left of zero.

How do negative numbers relate to owing money?

When you owe money you have less than nothing of your own, so it is shown as a negative amount. If you owe a friend $4, your money position is -$4, which is below zero.

Is zero a positive or a negative number?

Zero is neither positive nor negative. It is the starting point in the middle of the number line, with positive numbers to its right and negative numbers to its left.

Which is bigger, -2 or -5?

-2 is bigger than -5. The further left you move on the number line, the smaller the number becomes, so -5 is smaller because it is further from zero on the negative side.

Can you have a temperature below zero?

Yes. Temperatures colder than freezing are written as negative numbers, like -2°C. The lower the negative number, the colder it is.

Negative Numbers and Owing Money

Math Interactive lesson Free to play

Negative numbers are numbers less than zero, written with a minus sign in front, like -3 or -5. They sit to the left of zero on the number line, while the numbers children already know (1, 2, 3 and so on) sit to the right as positive numbers. Zero itself is neither positive nor negative — it is the dividing point between the two.

Negative numbers show up in everyday situations. A temperature below freezing, such as -2°C, is colder than 0°. Owing money is another common example: if you have $3 you write +3, but if you owe a friend $4 you have -4, because you have less than nothing of your own. The further left a number is on the number line, the smaller it is, so -5 is smaller than -2.

The key ideas a learner grasps are reading and writing negatives with the minus sign, ordering and comparing them on a number line, and counting backwards through zero into negative values — for example, spending $5 when you only have $2 leaves you at -3.

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Numbers below zero

🧊 Maths adventure Numbers Below Zero You already know 0, 1, 2, 3… But did you know there are numbers below zero too? 0 -3 +3 colder ◀ ▶ warmer Numbers with a little minus sign in front, like -3, are called negative numbers. They show things that are less than nothing — like being cold or owing money. Tap Next to explore. Let's go! 🚀
Colder than zero

Colder Than Zero 🌡️ On a thermometer, 0° is freezing. Go warmer and numbers go up (+). Go colder and numbers drop below zero (-). +5° a cool morning ❄️ Colder −1 ☀️ Warmer +1 Try cooling it all the way below zero!
The number line

Both Sides of Zero Zero sits in the middle. Negatives go left, positives go right. Tap the number I ask for! Notice: the further left you go, the smaller the number. So -5 is smaller than -1!
Owing money

Owing Money = Negative 💰 Imagine your pocket money. If you have money, that's a positive number. If you owe a friend, that's a negative number! 🙂 💵💵💵 +$3 You have $3. Lucky you! 🍦 Spend $1 ⭐ Earn $1 Spend more than you have and your balance goes below zero — that means you owe money!
Sort them out

Above or Below Zero? ✋ Drag each card into the right box. Money you owe and temperatures below freezing are negative. ⬇️ Below zero (−) ⬆️ Above zero (+)
Counting through zero

Counting Down Past Zero When you take away more than you have, just keep counting past zero into the negatives. You have $2. You buy a snack for $5. Step down one dollar at a time. Tap Step −1 and watch! $2 $2 in your pocket 👍 Step −$1 ⬇️ Reset
You try it

Your Turn to Decide 🧠 Lin owes her brother $4. Which number shows how much money Lin has? 🧒 ➜ 🧑 $4 +$4 $0 −$4 Owing means below zero. Which one is that?
You did it!

🎉 You're a Negative Number Star! Look how much you learned today: 🔢 Negative numbers are less than zero — written with a minus sign, like -3. 🌡️ Below freezing temperatures are negative (colder than 0°). ➡️ On the number line, negatives are left of zero, positives are right. 💰 Owing money is negative. -$4 means you owe $4. ⬇️ You can count past zero when you spend more than you have. Next time it's cold, or you lend a friend a coin, you'll spot negative numbers in real life. Well done! 🌟

Frequently asked questions

What is a negative number?: A negative number is any number less than zero, written with a minus sign in front, such as -1, -2 or -7. On a number line, negative numbers are found to the left of zero.
How do negative numbers relate to owing money?: When you owe money you have less than nothing of your own, so it is shown as a negative amount. If you owe a friend $4, your money position is -$4, which is below zero.
Is zero a positive or a negative number?: Zero is neither positive nor negative. It is the starting point in the middle of the number line, with positive numbers to its right and negative numbers to its left.
Which is bigger, -2 or -5?: -2 is bigger than -5. The further left you move on the number line, the smaller the number becomes, so -5 is smaller because it is further from zero on the negative side.
Can you have a temperature below zero?: Yes. Temperatures colder than freezing are written as negative numbers, like -2°C. The lower the negative number, the colder it is.

Negative Numbers and Owing Money

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Frequently asked questions

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