GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

1.3 Negative numbers — Practise with help

Warm-up: remember

  1. Work out 346+78346 + 78.
  2. Work out 7.5×47.5 \times 4.
  3. Which is smaller, −2-2 or −9-9?
Answers
  1. 424424.
  2. 3030.
  3. −9-9 (further left).

Practise with help

1. Work out: (a) −5+9-5 + 9; (b) 6−106 - 10; (c) −4−3-4 - 3.

Hint

Picture the number line. Adding moves right; subtracting moves left.

Full working

(a) 44. (b) −4-4. (c) −7-7.

2. Work out: (a) 3−(−7)3 - (-7); (b) −2−(−8)-2 - (-8).

Hint

Subtracting a negative is the same as adding: a−(−b)=a+ba - (-b) = a + b.

Full working

(a) 3+7=103 + 7 = 10. (b) −2+8=6-2 + 8 = 6.

3. Work out: (a) (−4)×5(-4) \times 5; (b) (−4)×(−5)(-4) \times (-5); (c) (−24)÷6(-24) \div 6.

Hint

Decide the sign from the table, then work out the size.

Full working

(a) −20-20. (b) 2020. (c) −4-4.

4. The temperature at midnight was −6 ∘C-6\,^\circ\text{C}. By 8 am it had risen by 11 ∘C11\,^\circ\text{C}. What was the temperature at 8 am?

Hint

"Risen by 11" means add 11.

Full working

−6+11=5 ∘C-6 + 11 = 5\,^\circ\text{C}.

5. A bank account has £30 in it. Three payments go out: £45, £12 and £8. Work out the new balance and explain the sign.

Hint

Total the payments first, then subtract from £30.

Full working

Payments total 45+12+8=6545 + 12 + 8 = 65. Balance =30−65=−£35= 30 - 65 = -£35. Negative means the account is overdrawn by £35.

6. In the chapter problem, the stall spent £92.80 and took £90. Write the profit as a negative number and say what it means.

Hint

Profit == taken −- spent.

Full working

90−92.80=−2.8090 - 92.80 = -2.80, so a loss of £2.80.

7. Complete: (a) −3+□=2-3 + \Box = 2; (b) 4−□=−14 - \Box = -1.

Hint

Use the inverse: if −3+□=2-3 + \Box = 2, then □=2−(−3)\Box = 2 - (-3).

Full working

(a) □=2−(−3)=5\Box = 2 - (-3) = 5. (b) □=4−(−1)=5\Box = 4 - (-1) = 5.

Settings

Colour scheme

Applies to every book you read here.

Reading theme

Applies to every book you read here.