Positive and negative numbers and zero - Examples, Exercises and Solutions

Understanding Positive and negative numbers and zero

Complete explanation with examples

Positive, negative numbers and zero are a fundamental topic in algebra, it is very easy to understand it by drawing a number line in which zero is located in the middle.

  • Zero is our reference point.
  • The positive numbers are the same numbers we use to this day and are located to the right of zero. Now that we are beginning to study the subject of positive and negative numbers, we will see a sign before the positive ones, the plus sign (+), to make it clear that it is a positive number, but, later, after we understand the subject well, we will suppress it.
  • Negative numbers are those that are located on the left side of zero and have a minus sign (-). Unlike positive numbers, the minus sign will always appear next to negative numbers to indicate that they are actually negative numbers.

We will illustrate this on the number line:

A1 - Positive and negative numbers and zero

Detailed explanation

Practice Positive and negative numbers and zero

Test your knowledge with 20 quizzes

\( -4>-3 \)

AAAKKK-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444555

Examples with solutions for Positive and negative numbers and zero

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

5 < -5

AAAKKK-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444555

Step-by-Step Solution

As per the fact that there cannot be a situation where a negative number is greater than a positive number, the answer is incorrect.

Answer:

Not true

Video Solution
Exercise #2

Does the number 6 -6 appear on the number line to the right of number 2? 2\text{?}

Step-by-Step Solution

If we draw a number line, we can see that the number minus 6 is located to the left of the number 2:


-4-4-4555-3-3-3-2-2-2-1-1-1000111222333444-5-5-5-6-6-6Therefore, the answer is not correct.

Answer:

No

Video Solution
Exercise #3

All negative numbers appear on the number line to the left of the number 0.

Step-by-Step Solution

If we draw a number line, we can see that to the right of zero are positive numbers, and to the left of zero are negative numbers:

-4-4-4555-3-3-3-2-2-2-1-1-1000111222333444

Therefore, the answer is correct.

Answer:

True.

Video Solution
Exercise #4

3.98 3.98 and +3.98 +3.98 are two ways of writing the same number.

Step-by-Step Solution

Indeed, both forms are identical since a number without a sign will be positive, as in the case of 3.98

If there is a plus sign before the number, the number is necessarily positive, as in the case of +3.98

Therefore, the answer is correct.

Answer:

True

Exercise #5

The sign is always written to the left of the number.

Step-by-Step Solution

In mathematics, numbers are categorized as either positive or negative, and this is denoted using a sign. For example, positive numbers might include a "+" sign on the left (though it's often omitted), such as +3 +3 or simply 3 3 , whereas negative numbers require a "-" sign, such as 3 -3 .

The placement of the sign is crucial for properly understanding the value and meaning of the number. The sign is always placed to the left of the number when it comes to expressing signed numbers on the number line, or anywhere formally outside of a context where postfix notation is specifically used (e.g., for programming or algorithmic purposes).

Therefore, the provided statement "The sign is always written to the left of the number" is indeed True.

Answer:

True

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