· Grade 6 lesson · 2 min read
Lesson: Adding Negative Numbers (Grade 6)
On a number line, adding a positive number moves RIGHT. Adding a negative number moves LEFT.
What are negative numbers?
Numbers below zero are negative. You see them on a thermometer in winter: −3 °C is 3 degrees below zero.
On a number line, negatives are on the left of 0. Positives are on the right.
Example 1: −3 + 5
- Start at −3.
- Adding +5 means move 5 steps right.
- You land on 2.
So −3 + 5 = 2.
Example 2: 2 + (−5)
- Start at 2.
- Adding −5 means move 5 steps left.
- You land on −3.
So 2 + (−5) = −3.
Quick rules
| You add… | You move… |
|---|---|
| a positive number (+) | right ➡️ |
| a negative number (−) | left ⬅️ |
A money way to think
- A positive number is money you get.
- A negative number is money you owe.
You owe $3 (−3) and then get $5 (+5). After paying back, you have $2. So −3 + 5 = 2. ✔
Your turn
- −4 + 6 = ? (2)
- 3 + (−7) = ? (−4)
- −2 + (−3) = ? (−5: start at −2, move 3 more left)
Practice
Try the Adding Integers worksheets. If negatives are new, start with Integers, Opposites & the Number Line.