Negative number
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A negative number is a number that is smaller than zero.
A negative number is made by putting the "-" symbol in front of the symbol for the number. For example, "-3" is a negative number. The symbol "-3" in words is "minus three" or "negative three".
Negative numbers are left of zero on a number line.
[edit] Arithmetic with negative numbers
- Adding a negative number to something is the same as subtracting a positive number from it. For example, to add the negative number "-1" to the number "9" is the same as subtracting one from nine. In symbols:
9+ (-1) = 9-1=8
- Subtracting a negative number from something is the same as adding a positive number to it. For example, to subtract the negative number "-8" from the number "6" is the same as adding the number "6" and the number "8". In symbols:
6 - (-8) = 6 + 8 = 14
A negative number multiplied by another negative number gives you a positive number. For example, to multiply the negative number "-3" by the negative number "-2" is the same as multiplying the number "3" by the number "2". In symbols:
(-3) x (-2)= 3 x 2 = 6
[edit] Negative number uses
When a person or company is in debt, people sometimes say they have a negative amount of money. Negative numbers are used in accounting and science.
[edit] References
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