Ordering Positive and Negative Numbers

This worksheet is about ordering positive and negative numbers.

Think of a number line.

As you move to the left of a horizontal number line, the numbers get smaller.

Remember that:

< means "is smaller than"

> means "is bigger than"

So...

5 > -10

-53 < 53

-53 < -50

Example 1

Choose < or > to place between these pairs of numbers.

Answer

201 is positive.

-163 is negative.

Positive numbers are always bigger than negative numbers.

So 201 is bigger than -163.

Example 2

Choose < or > to place between these pairs of numbers.

Answer

-201 is negative.

-163 is negative.

Which is further to the left on the number line? 

-201 is more negative, so it is smaller than -163.

So -201 is smaller than -163.