number · Year 6 · AC9M6N01

Negative numbers on the number line

The number line runs on past zero into the negatives. Numbers get larger as you move right and smaller as you move left, so -1 is larger than -3 even though 3 looks bigger — -1 is closer to zero. With negatives, a bigger digit means a smaller number. You can also subtract past zero: start at 3 and count back 5, passing through zero to land on -2. Counting back does not stop at zero.

Sample questions

Which number is the largest? 5, -9, -1, -7

  1. Picture 5, -9, -1, -7 on a number line. Numbers get larger as you move right.
  2. The number furthest to the right is 5.
  3. The largest number is 5.

Answer: 5

Which number is the largest? -1, -4, 1, -8

  1. Picture -1, -4, 1, -8 on a number line. Numbers get larger as you move right.
  2. The number furthest to the right is 1.
  3. The largest number is 1.

Answer: 1

Which number is the largest? -5, -3, -4, -9

  1. Picture -5, -3, -4, -9 on a number line. Numbers get larger as you move right.
  2. The number furthest to the right is -3.
  3. The largest number is -3.

Answer: -3

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