Functional Skills Mathematics Level 1

Positive and Negative

Positive is an expression used in maths to signify a figure/value above ‘0’.

Negative is an expression in maths to signify a figure/value below ‘0’.

Below are two temperatures – (Use the thermometer to help you)

20°C –10°C
20 is above 0 and –10 is below 0 (Use the thermometer to help you)
In temperature 0°C is the temperature at which water freezes. Any negative figures are below 0°C and
any positive figures are above 0°C.

°C
25

20

15

10

–5

–10

–15

You can also use a negative figure to represent a loss of trading. Or a bank may use a negative to
represent an overdraft as the figure is below 0.

V001 – 24/02/2011

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Tel. +44 (0) 8707 202909 | Fax. +44 (0) 2476 516505 | Email. enquiries@ediplc.com | www.ediplc.com
 Functional Skills Mathematics Level 1

Positive and Negative

Activity
Write the temperatures in the correct places on the thermometer

20 –10 15

5 –5

–15 10 25

°C

V001 – 24/02/2011

EDI | International House | Siskin Parkway East | Middlemarch Business Park | Coventry | CV3 4PE | UK
Tel. +44 (0) 8707 202909 | Fax. +44 (0) 2476 516505 | Email. enquiries@ediplc.com | www.ediplc.com
 Functional Skills Mathematics Level 1

Positive and Negative

Example Functional Skills Questions

1) Your fridge has been set to the wrong temperature of –1°C , you buy some cakes that need to be
stored at 4°C.
How much does the fridge temperature need to be increased by to store the cakes?
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2) In the weather the temperature today was –6°C but is going to be 2°C tomorrow.
How much will the temperature increase by?
__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

V001 – 24/02/2011

EDI | International House | Siskin Parkway East | Middlemarch Business Park | Coventry | CV3 4PE | UK
Tel. +44 (0) 8707 202909 | Fax. +44 (0) 2476 516505 | Email. enquiries@ediplc.com | www.ediplc.com