Concept of Negative Numbers

Negative numbers are numbers less than zero, written with a minus (-) sign in front of them.

When you subtract a smaller number from a larger number, you get a positive result.
For example:

• 15 - 6 = 9 (Positive number)
• 8 - 3 = 5 (Positive number)
• 6 - 2 = 4 (Positive number)
• 45 - 15 = 30 (Positive number)

When you subtract a larger number from a smaller number, the result is negative.
For example:

• 6 - 15 = -9 (Negative result)
• 18 - 38 = -20 (Negative result)

This shows that if a larger number is subtracted from a smaller number, the result is negative.

Negative numbers are placed to the left of 0 on the number line, which is a visual  way of representing numbers lower than zero.

• Profit and Loss: Profit is positive, while loss is negative.
• Temperature: Below-zero temperatures are negative (e.g., -5°C).
• Height above/below sea level: Heights above sea level are positive, while depths below sea level are negative.
• Directions: Moving south could be represented as negative, while moving north would be positive.

• Every number has an opposite: +5 and –5 are opposites.

• Adding opposites always gives zero: (+5) + (–5) = 0.

• Subtracting a negative number is the same as addition.

• The number line helps us visualize and compare integers.

• In real life, negative numbers represent loss, debt, below zero, etc.