PEAZIT Aha card
Go straight to resources ↓Negative numbers: movement on the number line
Adding a positive number moves right; adding a negative moves left. Subtracting a number adds its opposite.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| −3 + 5 = 2 | Start at −3 and move five places right. |
| 2 − (−4) = 2 + 4 | Subtracting −4 means adding its opposite +4. |
| 2 + 4 = 6 | Four places right of 2. |
One worked example
- −3 + 5 = 2Start at −3 and move five places right.
- 2 − (−4) = 2 + 4Subtracting −4 means adding its opposite +4.
- 2 + 4 = 6Four places right of 2.
Watch out: The rule “negative times negative is positive” concerns multiplication. For sums, track sizes and directions.
Goal, prerequisites and card origin
What you will learn: Add and subtract signed integers.
What you need first: The number line and numbers left of zero.
An original PEAZIT working card. Independent expert review and effectiveness testing have not yet taken place. · v1
Show connections
Adding a positive number moves right; adding a negative moves left. Subtracting a number adds its opposite.