Number Line with Signed Numbers Practice Problems

Master addition and subtraction on the number line with positive and negative numbers. Practice plotting points, solving equations, and understanding signed number operations.

📚What You'll Practice with Number Line and Signed Numbers
  • Plot positive and negative numbers accurately on the number line
  • Add signed numbers by moving right on the number line
  • Subtract signed numbers by moving left on the number line
  • Identify decimal and fraction positions between integers
  • Compare signed numbers using less than and greater than symbols
  • Solve addition and subtraction problems using number line visualization

Understanding The Number Line with Signed Numbers

Complete explanation with examples

The real line looks like this: a horizontal line in which small equidistant vertical lines are inserted.

Real number line

A1 - Real number line

Characteristics of the number line:

  • Below each vertical line a whole number is inserted in ascending order from left to right.
  • The distance between two consecutive numbers is called a "segment".

The operations of addition and subtraction can be seen as a horizontal movement on the number line.

  • When adding, we move to the right.
  • When subtracting, we move to the left.
Detailed explanation

Practice The Number Line with Signed Numbers

Test your knowledge with 17 quizzes

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

Examples with solutions for The Number Line with Signed Numbers

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

What is the distance between F and B?

AAA-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444

Step-by-Step Solution

One might think that as a consequence of the displacement on the axis being towards the negative domain, the result is also negative.

However it is important to keep in mind that here we are referring to the distance.

Distance can never be negative.

Even if the displacement is towards the negative domain, the distance is an existing value.

Answer:

4

Video Solution
Exercise #2

Fill in the corresponding sign

D ? J

AAA-6-6-6BBB-5-5-5CCC-4-4-4DDD-3-3-3EEE-2-2-2FFF-1-1-1GGG000HHH111III222JJJ333KKK444LLL555MMM666NNN777

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's look at the number line and locate the letters:

D=3 D=-3

J=3 J=3

Therefore:

-3 < 3

D < J

Answer:

D < J

Video Solution
Exercise #3

-4>-3

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

Step-by-Step Solution

The answer is incorrect because neative 3 is greater than negative 4:

-4 < -3

Answer:

Not true

Video Solution
Exercise #4

Solve the exercise

F ? 0

AAA-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444KKK555LLL666

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's look at the number line and locate the letters:

F=0 F=0

Therefore:

0=0 0=0

F=0 F=0

Answer:

F=0 F=0

Video Solution
Exercise #5

What is the distance between A and K?

AAA-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444KKK555

Step-by-Step Solution

One might think that because there are numbers on the axis that go into the negative domain, that the result must also negative.

However it is important to keep in mind that here we are asking about distance.

Distance can never be negative.

Even if we move towards or from the domain of negativity, distance is an existing value (absolute value).

We can think of it as if we were counting the number of steps, and it doesn't matter if we start from five or minus five, both are 5 steps away from zero.

Answer:

10

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you add negative numbers on a number line?

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To add negative numbers on a number line, start at the first number and move left the number of units shown by the second negative number. For example, (-3) + (-2) means start at -3 and move 2 units left to reach -5.

What direction do you move when adding positive numbers on a number line?

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When adding positive numbers on a number line, you always move to the right. The number of units you move corresponds to the value being added. This represents the fundamental rule that addition increases value.

How do you subtract on a number line with signed numbers?

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To subtract on a number line, start at the first number (minuend) and move left the number of units equal to the second number (subtrahend). For example, 3 - 8 means start at 3 and move 8 units left to reach -5.

What is the difference between positive and negative numbers on a number line?

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On a number line, positive numbers are located to the right of zero and negative numbers are to the left of zero. Positive numbers increase in value as you move right, while negative numbers decrease in value as you move left from zero.

How do you plot fractions and decimals on a number line?

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To plot fractions and decimals, divide the segments between whole numbers into equal parts. For example, to plot 0.5, find the midpoint between 0 and 1. For fractions like 3/4, divide the segment into 4 equal parts and count 3 parts from the whole number.

What are the key characteristics of a number line?

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A number line has these characteristics: 1) It's a horizontal line with equidistant marks, 2) Numbers increase from left to right, 3) Zero separates positive and negative numbers, 4) The distance between consecutive numbers is called a segment, 5) It extends infinitely in both directions.

How do you compare signed numbers using a number line?

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To compare signed numbers on a number line, remember that numbers farther to the right are greater than numbers to the left. For example, -2 > -5 because -2 is positioned to the right of -5 on the number line.

What mistakes do students make when working with signed numbers on a number line?

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Common mistakes include: moving in the wrong direction during operations, confusing the rules for addition and subtraction, incorrectly placing negative numbers, and forgetting that subtracting a negative number means adding its positive value.

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