What are negative numbers?
Numbers don't just stop at zero. When you count backwards from zero, you go into negative numbers.
Positive numbers are more than zero: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
Negative numbers are less than zero: -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, etc.
A number line can be used to order negative and positive numbers.
Zero, 0, is neither positive nor negative.
Watch: Negative numbers?
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Teaching resources
Looking for more resources to help your students understand negative numbers? Get your class up and learning with this song and movement video from our Super Movers series from The Posh Pooch.
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Play our fun maths game Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica. gamePlay our fun maths game Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica
Use your times tables and more maths skills to defeat monsters and reclaim the Kingdom of Mathematica
More on Place value
Find out more by working through a topic
- count1 of 4
- count2 of 4
- count3 of 4