Working with Negative Numbers

March 11, 2023

Scheme of work: GCSE Foundation: Year 9: Term 2: Working with Negative Numbers

Prerequisite Knowledge

Count backwards through zero to include negative numbers
interpret negative numbers in context, count forwards and backwards with positive and negative whole numbers, including through zero
use negative numbers in context, and calculate intervals across zero

Success Criteria

Order positive and negative integers
apply the four operations, including formal written methods, to integers, both positive and negative

Key Concepts

Temperature can be placed along a thermometer to order negative and positive numbers.
Use a number line to demonstrate how negative number is less than its positive counterpart but of equal magnitude.
Use a number line to demonstrate addition and subtraction involving negative and positive numbers.
Adding a negative is equivalent to a subtraction. ( 4 + -2 = 4 â€“ 2)
Understanding why subtracting a negative results in an addition is vital to multiplying and dividing with negative numbers.

Common Misconceptions

Students often incorrectly consider negative numbers with a larger magnitude than positives to have a bigger value. For example, -3 < 2.
Common incorrect answers to -4 + 6 are -2 (4 – 6) and -10 (-4 – 6)
Trying to remember multiplication rules for when to leave the answer as a positive or negative often results in confusion when adding and subtracting. Use a number line to demonstrate -3 x 2 = -3 + -3 = 6.

Working with Negative Numbers Resources

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