Addition and Subtraction

Positive numbers are the numbers that you use every day. Examples of positive numbers are the amount in your bank account when you have some money to spend, or the temperature that the weather forecaster gives you on the news on a hot day. 

Sometimes situations give rise to negative numbers. This is when you are overdrawn in your bank account, or when the temperature drops below freezing.

You can represent both positive and negative numbers on a number line.  The numbers to the left of zero are negative. The numbers to the right of zero are positive.

Use the arrows to view the examples and practice questions, or click the link below to download a printable file.