Grade 6 Mathematics
Numbers can be positive (greater than zero) or negative (less than zero)!
Zero is the middle point. Numbers to the LEFT of zero are negative. Numbers to the RIGHT are positive.
Absolute value tells us how far a number is from zero (always positive!).
The farther LEFT, the SMALLER the number! So -10 is smaller than -2, even though 10 seems bigger than 2.
Every number has an opposite - the same distance from zero, but on the other side.
The opposite of 5 is -5
The opposite of -3 is 3
The opposite of 0 is 0 (zero is its own opposite!)
A number plus its opposite always equals zero! Example: 5 + (-5) = 0
Absolute value = distance from zero (always positive or zero!)
WRONG: "-8 is greater than -3 because 8 is greater than 3"
RIGHT: -8 is LESS than -3 because -8 is farther LEFT on the number line. Think: -8 degrees is COLDER than -3 degrees!
Use the number line! The number on the RIGHT is always greater.
Examples:
-4 < -1 (negative 4 is less than negative 1)
-2 < 0 (negative numbers are less than zero)
-5 < 3 (negative numbers are less than positive numbers)
|-7| > |4| (7 is greater than 4)
1. What is the opposite of 7?
2. What is the opposite of -12?
3. Find the absolute value: |-9| =
4. Find the absolute value: |15| =
5. Compare using < or >: -6 -2
6. Compare using < or >: -4 1
7. Order from least to greatest: 3, -5, 0, -2, 4