Understanding Negative Numbers
Negative numbers are simply numbers that are smaller than zero, and you encounter them more often than you realise. Think about winter temperatures - when it's freezing cold in Moscow at -1°C, that's a negative number in action!
The best way to understand negative numbers is by using a number line. Picture a straight line with zero in the middle, positive numbers stretching to the right, and negative numbers extending to the left. The further left you go, the smaller the number becomes.
When comparing negative numbers, remember this key rule: numbers further to the right on the number line are always bigger. So -1 is actually larger than -2, even though 2 is bigger than 1 in positive numbers.
Inequality symbols help you show which number is greater or smaller. The symbol always opens towards the larger number - think of it like a hungry mouth that wants to eat the bigger number! For example, -1 > -2 means -1 is greater than -2.
Quick Tip: When comparing negative numbers, the one closest to zero is always the largest. So -1 beats -10 every time!