Negative Numbers
About Negative Numbers
Negative Numbers are those with a negative sign, but do you know what happens when you combine negative and positive signs in math?
What do think will be the answer to 5-3-4+1? Well, let’s learn in the activity.
Negative numbers are mathematical numbers that are less than zero. They are represented by a minus sign (-) placed in front of the number. Negative numbers are used to represent many different things in mathematics and real life situations. For example, negative numbers can represent debts, losses, decreases, and temperatures below freezing.
In basic arithmetic, negative numbers are used in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. When adding or subtracting negative numbers, it is important to remember that two negative numbers make a bigger negative number, while a negative and positive number will be subtracted. For example, (-5) + (-3) = -8, but (-5) – 3 = -8. When multiplying or dividing negative numbers, the rule is that two negatives make a positive, while a negative and positive will result in a negative answer. For example, (-5) x (-3) = 15, but (-5) รท 3 = -1.67 (rounded to two decimal places).
Negative numbers are important in many fields such as science, engineering, and finance. For example, in physics, negative numbers can represent displacement or velocity in the opposite direction. In finance, negative numbers can represent losses, debts, or expenses. Understanding and working with negative numbers is a crucial part of mathematics and is used in many different areas of study and in real-life situations.