Hey there! Today we are going on an adventure below zero. Let's explore what happens when we count backwards past nothing!
Have you ever wondered what is colder than zero degrees, or what lies beneath the surface of the ocean? In math, we use negative numbers to show values that are less than zero.
Think of a number line. Zero is the cozy center. Positive numbers live to the right, getting bigger and bigger. Negative numbers live to the left, getting colder and smaller!
Every positive number has an 'opposite' negative partner that is the exact same distance from zero, just in the other direction. For example, -3 is the opposite of 3.
✏️ Worked example
Which number is colder (smaller): -5°C or -2°C?
Find zero on your mental number line.
Count 2 spaces to the left to find -2.
Count 5 spaces to the left to find -5.
Since -5 is further to the left than -2, it is colder and smaller!
So, -5 is less than -2 (written as -5 < -2).
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