📚 Positive Integers on a Number Line
Positive integers are whole numbers greater than zero. They are located to the right of zero on a number line. Think of them as representing values that are 'adding' or 'increasing'.
- 📈 Positive integers increase as you move further to the right.
- ➕ They are often (but not always) written with a '+' sign in front. For example, +3 is the same as 3.
- 🗺️ On a horizontal number line, they are to the right of zero.
📚 Negative Integers on a Number Line
Negative integers are whole numbers less than zero. They are located to the left of zero on a number line. They represent values that are 'subtracting' or 'decreasing'.
- 📉 Negative integers decrease as you move further to the left (e.g., -5 is less than -2).
- ➖ They are always written with a '-' sign in front.
- 🧭 On a horizontal number line, they are to the left of zero.
📊 Positive vs. Negative Integers: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature |
Positive Integers |
Negative Integers |
| Definition |
🔢 Whole numbers greater than zero. |
🔢 Whole numbers less than zero. |
| Location on Number Line |
➡️ To the right of zero. |
⬅️ To the left of zero. |
| Sign |
➕ Often (but not always) have a '+' sign. |
➖ Always have a '-' sign. |
| Value |
⬆️ Increase as you move right. |
⬇️ Decrease as you move left. |
| Examples |
1, 2, 3, 4, ... |
-1, -2, -3, -4, ... |
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 📍 Zero is neither positive nor negative.
- 🧭 The further to the right you go on the number line, the larger the number (regardless of sign).
- ⚖️ Positive and negative numbers are used to represent opposite concepts, such as gains and losses, or above and below sea level.
- 💡 The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero. For example, the absolute value of both 5 and -5 is 5, written as $|5| = |-5| = 5$.