Why Are Big Negative Numbers Less Than Small Ones?
We're used to big positive numbers meaning a big value - the bigger
the number, the more, or higher, or longer, or expensive, or whatever
the number represents.
With negative numbers, we have to remember that
as the digit gets bigger, the number gets smaller. Think what the number
represents. Think what the value is.
The amount of money you have gets lower the more you owe.
The temperature gets lower, the colder it gets
The more you take away, the less you have
Looking at numbers on a vertical number line can be useful.
Zero is neither positive or negative
Examples of Comparing Integers
Which is greater, -5 or -3?
Locate both numbers on the number line. Numbers
to the right are greater. -3 is to the right of -5 so -3 is greater.
Put the following numbers in
order starting with the least. -23, 17, -32, 2, -4, 0
Start looking at the negative numbers
as these are always less than positive numbers. Start with the "biggest" negative
number ( -32) as that has the lowest value.
Find the next "biggest" negative number
(-23) and continue until the negative numbers are in order.
Zero and positive numbers can then be put into
order to give the following complete list:
-32 , -23 , -4 , 0 , 2 , 17
Which of these numbers is greater
than -6 but less than 4?
-8, -10, 5, -4, 0
Start be
finding all the numbers that are less than -6. This gets rid
of -8 and -10 (to the left of -6 on the
number line).
Next we'll get rid of any number that is greater
(not less) than 4. This means 5 is out leaving:
-4 and 0
Try these worksheets to practice with using integers.
Using
Integers