Negative Numbers · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Going below zero

Mathematics · Number Representation & Place Value · ages 8-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. The temperature is -3 degrees. How does that compare with 0 degrees?

    • colder
    • warmer
    • the same
    • impossible

  2. Count back from 5 past zero. Which number comes after 0?

    • 1
    • 5
    • 10
    • -1

  3. Count backward: 3, 2, 1, 0, ___. What comes next?

    -3-2-10123
    • 1
    • −1
    • 0

  4. Zero is a negative number.

    Circle one:   True   False

  5. Nina says -5 is less than -2 because it sits further left on the number line. Is Nina right?

    Circle one:   True   False

  6. The temperature is 1 degree. It drops 4 degrees overnight. What is the new temperature?

    -5-4-3-2-1012345drops 4 degrees
    • −3 degrees
    • 3 degrees
    • 5 degrees

  7. Which number sits between -4 and -2 on the number line?

    • -1
    • -3
    • -5
    • 3

  8. A lift goes from floor 3 down 5 floors. Which floor does it reach?

    Answer: ______________

  9. Zoe counted backward like this: 2, 1, 0, 1, 2. What mistake did she make?

    • She skipped zero
    • She went back up instead of continuing into negative numbers
    • She started at the wrong number

  10. Dev says counting back from 2 gives 2, 1, 0, 1, 2. Is Dev right?

    Circle one:   True   False

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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Going below zero W1-mt_vXRzMbiPff-s1

  1. colder · Colder is right: anything below zero is colder than zero.
  2. -1 · -1 is right: counting back past zero reaches -1, then -2.
  3. −1 · After zero, the next number going down is negative one, written −1.
  4. False · Zero is neither positive nor negative. It is the starting point.
  5. True · Nina is right: further left means smaller, so -5 is less than -2.
  6. −3 degrees · Count back four from 1: 0, −1, −2, −3. It lands at −3 degrees.
  7. -3 · -3 is right: it sits exactly between -4 and -2.
  8. -2 · 3 - 5 = -2, two floors below ground.
  9. She went back up instead of continuing into negative numbers · After zero, counting backward should continue into negative numbers, −1 then −2, not back up to 1 and 2.
  10. False · Dev is wrong: after 0 come -1 and -2, not 1 and 2 again.
Worksheet · LightMySky