Order Positive and Negative Numbers

This activity 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

 

The further to the left of zero we get on a number line, the smaller the number.

 

Think about the reading on a thermometer on a really cold winter's day! If the temperature outside is -3, it's pretty cold, but if it goes down to -10, then it is even colder! -10 is colder than -3 because it is further away from zero.

 

Example 1

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

 

201

-163

 

Answer

201 is positive.

-163 is negative.

 

Positive numbers are always bigger than negative numbers.

So 201 is bigger than -163.

201

>

-163

 

 

Example 2

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

 

-201

-163

 

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.

 

-201

<

-163

 

 

How do you feel about this? Are you ready to try some questions?