Negative numbers

Negative numbers are those below zero on the number line. A negative number can be considered the additive inverse of a positive number. For example, -5 and 5 are additive inverses of each other, because they add up to zero. Zero is known as the additive identity, because adding zero to any number has no effect.

Negative numbers are useful in many ways. One everyday use is in relation to temperatures, particularly in Celsius.

• N1a – Ordering positive and negative integers
• N1b – Ordering decimals
• N2c – Applying the four operations to negative numbers