Negative Numbers for Kids: Use a Number Line to Compare, Add and Subtract (Grade 6 Math)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are exploring negative numbers. Negative numbers are less than zero. You see them on a thermometer on a cold winter day, like negative five degrees.

Here is a number line. Zero sits in the middle. Positive numbers go to the right, and negative numbers go to the left. Negative three is three steps to the left of zero.

Numbers get bigger as you move to the right. So negative two is greater than negative four, because it is further right. It is warmer at negative two degrees than at negative four degrees.

Every number has an opposite, the same distance from zero on the other side. The opposite of four is negative four. Both are four steps from zero, so they both have an absolute value of four.

Adding a positive number means moving right. Start at negative three and add five. Hop five steps to the right: negative two, negative one, zero, one, two. Negative three plus five equals two.

Subtracting a positive number means moving left. Start at two and subtract six. Hop six steps to the left, and you land on negative four. Two minus six equals negative four.

Now it's your turn. Start at negative one and subtract three. Where do you land? Pause and try. Move three steps to the left: negative two, negative three, negative four. Negative one minus three equals negative four.

Great job! Remember, negative numbers are less than zero, numbers grow as you move right, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Practice negative numbers in Middle School Math at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!