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.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Jump on a number line
2 + 3 = 5
Positive jumps go right. Negative jumps go left. Zero stays in the middle.
Words to know
- negative number
- a number less than zero, written with a minus sign
- number line
- a line where numbers increase to the right
Worked examples
Which is larger: -1 or -3?
- 1.-1 is further right than -3.
- 2.Further right means larger.
= -1
Which is smaller: -2 or -8?
- 1.-8 is further left than -2.
- 2.Further left means smaller.
= -8
What is 3 - 5?
- 1.Start at 3, count back 5.
- 2.Pass through 0 to -2.
= -2
For parents
Method: Use a number line or a thermometer (colder = lower = smaller).
What to say: Ask 'which is closer to zero?' for the larger, and count back through zero for subtraction.
Common mistakes:
- Treating -3 as larger than -1 because 3 > 1.
- Treating -2 as smaller than -8.
- Believing you cannot go below zero (3 - 5 read as 2).