Mathematics•Numbers and Place Value
Negative Numbers
Understanding negative numbers in real-world contexts
12 minIncludes video
Learning Objective
4Nn13: Use negative numbers in context, e.g. temperature
What are Negative Numbers?
- Numbers less than zero
- Written with a minus sign: -1, -2, -3...
- Used for temperatures below zero, depths below sea level, owing money
Real World Examples
Temperature: -5°C means 5 degrees below freezing
Elevation: -10m means 10 meters below sea level
Money: -₦500 means you owe 500 Naira
Number Line
... -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3 ...
Negative numbers are to the LEFT of zero
Video: Khan Academy (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) | Aligned to Cambridge Primary 4Nn13