Positive and Negative Numbers

Vocabulary:

Copyright © PreAlgebraTeachers.com All Rights Reserved

Positive numbers are
GREATER than Zero.

Negative numbers are

LESS than Zero.

0

-1

-2

-3

3

2

1

Zero is NEITHER positive

or negative!

Vocabulary:

The opposite of a number is the number with the opposite sign.

For example:

The opposite of 3 𝑖𝑠 (−3), and the opposite of (−5) 𝑖𝑠 5.

To find the opposite of a number on the number line, count how far away the number is from zero,
then go the same distance on the other side of 0.

For example: To find the opposite of 3, let’s count how far 3 is from 0. Then go from 0 to the left
that many jumps.

Copyright © PreAlgebraTeachers.com All Rights Reserved

0

-1

-2

-3

3

2

1

3 jumps from 0

3 jumps left of 0

is -3

Examples

Find the opposite of the number -4 on the number line.

Copyright © PreAlgebraTeachers.com All Rights Reserved

The opposite of a number is the
same distance from zero in the

opposite direction.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Find the number on the number
line.

Count how many jumps it is from
zero.

Move the same number of jumps
in the opposite direction.

−4

0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

6

5

4

3

2

1

The opposite of -4 is 4.

4 jumps from 0.

Examples

Find the opposite of the number 2 on the number line.

Copyright © PreAlgebraTeachers.com All Rights Reserved

The opposite of a number is the
same distance from zero in the

opposite direction.

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Find the number on the number
line.

Count how many jumps it is from
zero.

Move the same number of jumps
in the opposite direction.

2

0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

−1

−2

−3

−4

−5

−6

6

5

4

3

2

1

The opposite of 2 is -2.

2 jumps from 0.