Negative numbers and absolute value

Negative numbers introduction

Mysterious negative numbers! What ARE they? They are numbers less than zero. If you understand the nature of below zero temperatures, you can understand negative numbers. We'll help.

Negative numbers and number line examples

Given a few negative numbers on a number line, let's see if we can determine what negative numbers are elsewhere on the number line.

Ordering negative numbers

Is -40 bigger than -10? When ordering negative numbers from least to greatest, careful that you don't get hung up on the "amount" of the number. Think about what that negative sign really means!

Learn how to add and subtract negative numbers

Let's practice adding and subtracting both positive and negative numbers. Remember that two negatives make a positive, or another way of looking at, subtracting a negative is the same as adding.

Adding negative numbers

Using number lines and an understanding of absolute values, we walk you through the exercise of adding negative numbers.

Adding numbers with different signs

Let's a take stab at adding numbers with both positive and negative signs. Using a number line makes this exercise easier and we recommend it.

Subtracting a negative = adding a positive

Logic tells us (as does this video) that subtracting a negative number is the same thing as adding the absolute value of that number. Watch and be amazed.

Negative number word problem

Let's challenge ourselves with a word problem that requires us to plot points, positive and negative, and find the difference.

Rational number word problem with decimals

Your checking account is overdrawn. Not good. Use your knowledge of decimals and adding negative and positive numbers to bring your account back into the black.

Adding/subtracting negative numbers

Adding and subtracting negative numbers

Multiplying positive and negative numbers

Here we explain some rules of thumb regarding the multiplication of positive and negative numbers.

Why a negative times a negative is a positive

Why are the products of negative numbers defined in the way they are? We'll use the distributive property to help you with your understanding.

Why a negative times a negative makes intuitive sense

We use the repeated addition model of multiplication to give an intuitive understanding of multiplying negative numbers.

Dividing positive and negative numbers

In this video we take you through the basics of dividing with negative numbers. You'll need to draw from your multiplication skills, too.

Multiplying numbers with different signs

Help us find the product of numbers with different signs.

Multiplying and dividing negative numbers

Multiplying and dividing negative numbers

Absolute value and number lines

One easy way to think of absolute value is the distance it is from zero. To do that, a number line comes in handy. Watch and learn.

Absolute value smallest to biggest

Not only will we identify several absolute values in this example, but we will order them from smallest to largest. Content provided by The NROC Project - ©Monterey Institute for Technology and Education

Absolute value of integers

Let's mix a little algebra into our discussion of absolute value. What if we are looking for the |x|? If we know what x equals, we can do it. Follow along.

Comparing absolute values

When we compare numbers we use the concepts of greater than (>), less than (<), and equal to (=). The same is true of absolute values.

Absolute value word problems

Here are a few word problems that ask us to apply our new absolute value knowledge. As with all word problems, read them a couple of times before jumping to an answer.

Constructing and interpreting absolute value

Watch as we apply our understanding of absolute value and adding/subtracting negative numbers to solve some word problems.