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Introduction GCSE Maths Number Negative Numbers

What are negative numbers?

Adding and subtracting

Negative Numbers
negative Numbers
Here we will learn about negative numbers including how to
Multiplying and dividing add, subtract, multiply, and divide negative numbers.
negative Numbers
There are also negative numbers worksheets based on
How to add and subtract Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further
negative numbers guidance on where to go next if you’re still stuck.

How to multiply and divide

negative numbers

Negative numbers worksheet What are negative numbers?

Negative numbers
!
examples Negative numbers are any numbers less than zero and have a
negative or minus sign (−) in front of them.
Common misconceptions
Numbers greater than zero are referred to as positive numbers.
Practice negative numbers
If there is no sign in front of a number the number is positive.
questions

Negative numbers GCSE On the number line below we can see some positive and
questions negative integers (whole numbers):

Learning checklist

Next lessons

Still stuck? The numbers in orange are negative values and the blue
numbers are positive values. Zero is neither positive or
negative.
One to one maths
interventions built for KS4 Just like you can add, subtract, multiply and divide positive
success numbers, you can do the same with negative numbers whether
Weekly online one to one they are integers, decimals or fractions.
GCSE maths revision lessons
now available

Learn more

In order to access this I need

What are negative
to be confident with: numbers?
Arithmetic
BIDMAS
Indices "

This topic is relevant for:

Adding and subtracting negative numbers

When adding and subtracting negative numbers use a number

line:

If you are adding, move to the right of the number line.

Introduction If you are subtracting, move to the left of the number line.

What are negative numbers?

Adding and subtracting

negative Numbers

Multiplying and dividing

negative Numbers
Sometimes a question might have two operations next to each
How to add and subtract
other:
negative numbers

How to multiply and divide E.g. 4 + (−2)

negative numbers
If the signs are the same replace with a positive sign.
Negative numbers worksheet
If the signs are different, replace with a negative sign.
Negative numbers
!
examples The chart below summarises this:

Common misconceptions

Practice negative numbers

questions

Negative numbers GCSE

questions

Learning checklist

Next lessons As a rule of thumb: same signs add, different signs subtract.

Still stuck? Step-by-step guide: Adding and subtracting negative numbers

What do you need to

remember when adding
and subtracting negative
numbers?
"

Multiplying and dividing negative

numbers

Similar rules apply for multiplying and dividing negative

numbers:

If the signs are the same, the answer is positive.

If the signs are different, the answer is negative.

When multiplying negative numbers:

The same rules apply for dividing negative numbers:

Step-by-step guide: Multiplying and dividing negative

numbers

What do you need to

remember when
multiplying and dividing
negative numbers?
"

Negative number arithmetic

There are rules for calculating with negative numbers.

When adding and subtracting numbers it is important to be

consistent with positive and negative values. If a number has
no sign it means that it is a positive number, for example, 5 is
really +5.

When two signs are written next to each other we need to

remember these rules

Two signs that are different become a negative sign

Two signs that are the same become a positive sign

When we add and subtract negative numbers, we can use a

number line to help us understand what direction we need to
move. 

E.g.

Work out −2 − 4

−2 − 4 = −6

Work out −4 + 13

−4 + 13 = 9

E.g.

Work out 4 + −7

There are two different signs written next to each other. These
become negative.

So,  4 + −7 =4−7

4 − 7 = −3

When multiplying and dividing negative numbers it is often

useful to complete the calculation using positive numbers
initially. Then, remember the rules

Multiplying or dividing two numbers with the same sign

will give a positive answer

Multiplying or dividing two numbers with different signs

will give a negative answer

E.g.

Work out −4 × −3

4 × 3 = 12

Both numbers have the same sign, so the answer will be

positive.

−4 × −3 = 12

E.g.

Work out 12 ÷ −2

12 ÷ 2 = 6

The numbers have different signs, so the answer will be

negative.

12 ÷ −2 = −6

Order integers
Integers (whole numbers) are ordered on a number line based
on positive integers and negative integers. The centre of the
number line is marked as 0. The integers that are greater than
0 are positive integers. The integers that are less than 0 are
negative integers.

The more an integer is negative, the smaller the value is. The
more an integer is positive, the bigger the value is.

E.g.

Put these numbers in ascending order.

4, −2, 0, 3, −3, −5, 1, 2

Remember: ascending means smallest to biggest.

-5 is the most negative number, so this is the smallest value.

4 is the most positive number, so this is the biggest value.

So, putting them in ascending order we get, -5,-3,-2, 0, 1, 2, 3,

4

E.g.

Put these numbers in descending order.

−1, −6, −12, −4, −3, −8

Remember, descending means biggest to smallest.

-1 is the least negative number, so this is the biggest value.

-12 is the most negative number, so this is the smallest value.

So, putting them in descending order we get,

−1, −3, −4, −6, −8, −12

How to add and subtract negative

numbers
In order to add and subtract negative numbers:

1 If you have two signs next to each other, change them to

a single sign.
      If the signs are the same, replace with a positive sign (+).
      If the signs are different, replace with a negative sign (−).

2 Circle the first number on the number line.

3 Use the number line to add or subtract your numbers:

     If you are adding, move to the right of the number in step 2
(→).
     If you are subtracting, move to the left of the number in step
2 (←).

4 Write your final answer.

Explain how to add and

subtract negative numbers
in 4 steps

"

How to multiply and divide

negative numbers
In order to multiply and divide negative numbers:

1 Multiply or divide the numbers normally.

2 Change the sign as necessary using the rules of

multiplying and dividing negative numbers:
     If the signs are the same, the answer is positive.
     If the signs are different, the answer is negative.

Explain how to multiply

and divide negative
numbers in 2 steps

"

Negative numbers
worksheet
Get your free negative numbers
worksheet of 20+ questions and
answers. Includes reasoning and
applied questions.

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Negative numbers examples

Example 1: adding a positive number

−5 + 8

1 If you have two signs next to each other, change them to

a single sign.

If the signs are the same in the middle of the calculation,

replace with a positive sign (+).
If the signs are different, replace with a negative sign (−).

In this case you do not have two signs next to each other.

2 Circle the first number on the number line.

The first number in the question is (−5)

3 Use the number line to add or subtract your numbers.

If you are adding, move to the right of the number in step 2 (→).
If you are subtracting, move to the left of the number in step 2
(←).

In this case we are adding the 8 so move 8 spaces right from

the (-5) on the number line:

4 Write your final answer.

−5 + 8 = 3

Example 2: subtracting a negative number

(two operations)

−7 − (−5)

If you have two signs next to each other, change them to

1
a single sign.
Show step

Circle the first number on the number line.

2
Show step

Use the number line to add or subtract your numbers.

3
Show step

Write your final answer.

4
Show step

Example 3: multiplying negative numbers

−6 × (−7)

Multiply or divide numbers normally.

1
Show step

Change the sign using the rules of multiplying and

2
dividing negative numbers:
Show step

Example 4: dividing negative numbers

−25 ÷ 5

Multiply or divide numbers normally.

1
Show step

Change the sign using the rules of multiplying and

2
dividing negative numbers:
Show step

Example 5: mixed operations (Order of

operations)

−18 ÷ (−6)– 3 × (−2)2 =

Start with the indices

1
Show step

Multiply or divide the numbers normally.

2
Show step

Change the sign using the rules of multiplying and

3
dividing negative numbers:
Show step

Circle the first number on the number line.

4
Show step

Use the number line to add or subtract your numbers

5
and write your final answer.
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