Number Line with Signed Numbers Practice Problems

Master positive and negative numbers on the number line with step-by-step practice problems. Learn to identify, compare, and order signed numbers effectively.

📚What You'll Master in This Practice Session
  • Identify positive and negative numbers on a number line
  • Place signed numbers correctly using zero as reference point
  • Compare and order positive and negative integers
  • Understand the relationship between opposite numbers
  • Solve problems involving signed number placement
  • Apply number line concepts to real-world situations

Understanding Positive and negative numbers and zero

Complete explanation with examples

Positive, negative numbers and zero are a fundamental topic in algebra, it is very easy to understand it by drawing a number line in which zero is located in the middle.

  • Zero is our reference point.
  • The positive numbers are the same numbers we use to this day and are located to the right of zero. Now that we are beginning to study the subject of positive and negative numbers, we will see a sign before the positive ones, the plus sign (+), to make it clear that it is a positive number, but, later, after we understand the subject well, we will suppress it.
  • Negative numbers are those that are located on the left side of zero and have a minus sign (-). Unlike positive numbers, the minus sign will always appear next to negative numbers to indicate that they are actually negative numbers.

We will illustrate this on the number line:

A1 - Positive and negative numbers and zero

Detailed explanation

Practice Positive and negative numbers and zero

Test your knowledge with 41 quizzes

All negative numbers appear on the number line to the left of the number 0.

Examples with solutions for Positive and negative numbers and zero

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

What is the distance between 0 and F?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Let's begin by marking F and 0 on the number line

We can thus determine that:

F=0 F=0

Therefore, the distance is 0 steps.

Answer:

0

Video Solution
Exercise #2

What is the distance between C and H?

AAA-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444

Step-by-Step Solution

We first mark the letter C on the number line and then proceed towards the letter H:

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Note that the distance between the two letters is 5 steps.

Answer:

5

Video Solution
Exercise #3

What is the distance between F and B?

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Step-by-Step Solution

One might think that as a consequence of the displacement on the axis being towards the negative domain, the result is also negative.

However it is important to keep in mind that here we are referring to the distance.

Distance can never be negative.

Even if the displacement is towards the negative domain, the distance is an existing value.

Answer:

4

Video Solution
Exercise #4

What is the distance between D and K?

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Step-by-Step Solution

We first mark the letter D on the number line and then proceed towards the letter K:

AAA-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444555KKK

Note that the distance between the two letters is 7 steps.

Answer:

7

Video Solution
Exercise #5

What is the distance between J and D?

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Step-by-Step Solution

Let's begin by marking the letter J on the number line and then proceeding towards the letter D:

AAA-5-5-5BBB-4-4-4CCC-3-3-3DDD-2-2-2EEE-1-1-1FFF000GGG111HHH222III333JJJ444555KKK

Note that the distance between the two letters is 6 steps

Answer:

6

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Positive and negative numbers and zero

What is the difference between positive and negative numbers on a number line?

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Positive numbers are located to the right of zero and can be written with or without a plus (+) sign. Negative numbers are located to the left of zero and always have a minus (-) sign to indicate they are below zero.

How do you read numbers on a number line with signed numbers?

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Start with zero as your reference point in the middle. Numbers increase in value as you move right (positive direction) and decrease as you move left (negative direction). The further from zero, the greater the absolute value.

Why is zero important on a number line with signed numbers?

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Zero serves as the reference point that separates positive and negative numbers. It's neither positive nor negative, making it the neutral starting point for understanding the relationship between signed numbers.

How do you compare positive and negative numbers?

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Any positive number is always greater than any negative number. When comparing negative numbers, the one closer to zero is greater (e.g., -2 > -5). For positive numbers, use regular comparison rules.

What are opposite numbers on a number line?

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Opposite numbers are the same distance from zero but on different sides of the number line. For example, +3 and -3 are opposites. They have the same absolute value but opposite signs.

How do you solve word problems involving signed numbers?

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1. Identify what zero represents in the context 2. Determine which direction represents positive values 3. Place the given information on a mental number line 4. Use the number line to find relationships and solve

What mistakes do students make with signed numbers on number lines?

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Common errors include: confusing which direction is positive/negative, thinking negative numbers with larger absolute values are greater (like -10 > -2), and forgetting that zero is neither positive nor negative.

How does understanding number lines help with algebra?

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Number lines provide a visual foundation for signed number operations, inequalities, and absolute value concepts. This visual understanding makes algebraic manipulation of positive and negative numbers much easier to grasp.

More Positive and negative numbers and zero Questions

Click on any question to see the complete solution with step-by-step explanations

The Number Line with Signed Numbers

Find the Value at the Red Point: Number Line Coordinate Mapping Number Line Pattern Recognition: Identifying the Missing Value Number Line Problem: Find the Value at the Red Point in -5 to 15 Sequence Number Line Problem: Find the Value at the Red Point (0-9 Scale) Number Line Position: Find the Value at the Red Point Between -32 and -8

Basic Definitions

Adding Decimal and Fraction: Solve 0.5 + 1/2 Solve (+43) - (+15): Integer Subtraction with Positive Numbers Solve Integer Addition: (+71) + (-18) Step by Step Solve (-2²)-(-3¾): Order of Operations with Negative Numbers Solve: (-3⅓) + (-2.75) - Adding Negative Mixed Numbers and Decimals

Continue Your Math Journey

Master Positive and negative numbers and zero first, then advance to these related topics that build on your fraction skills

Suggested Topics to Practice in Advance

Opposite numbersElimination of Parentheses in Real Numbers

Topics Learned in Later Sections

Real line or Numerical lineAddition and Subtraction of Real NumbersMultiplication and Division of Real NumbersIntegers

Practice by Question Type

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