Lucy
Ask the AI Tutor
Need help with Negative Numbers (Year 5)? Ask our AI Tutor!
Lucy AI Tutor - Lucy
Connecting with Tutor...
Please wait while we establish connection
Lucy
Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with Negative Numbers (Year 5) today?
now
Negative Numbers (Year 5)

Need help with this topic? Ask our AI Tutor!

Need help with this topic? Ask our AI Tutor!
The temperature is 4o. If it falls 8o it will become -4o.

Negative Numbers (Year 5)

Negative numbers Year 5 introduces values below zero. Pupils explore how they work in real life, including temperatures, money, and positions on number lines.

Explore the Topic →
(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

In Antarctica, winter temperatures can drop below ?60°C, which shows negative numbers in real life.

In KS2 Maths, Year 5 pupils learn to use negative numbers in different contexts. They practise reading thermometers, solving problems with money, and counting forwards and backwards through zero.

  • Negative Number: A value less than zero, shown with a minus sign.
  • Zero: A number that separates positive and negative values.
  • Integer: A whole number that can be positive, negative, or zero.
What are negative numbers in Year 5 maths?

Negative numbers are numbers less than zero. They are written with a minus sign, like ?5, and often represent cold temperatures or debts.

Where do we use negative numbers in real life?

We use negative numbers in temperatures below zero, bank accounts showing overdrafts, and in lifts that go below ground level.

How do you add and subtract negative numbers?

When adding a negative, you move left on a number line. When subtracting a negative, you move right, which makes the number larger.

1 .
Which of these is the largest number?
-1
-2
-3
-4
Negative numbers are the opposite of positive numbers therefore -1 is larger than all the other negative numbers
2 .
Which of these is the smallest number?
0
-1
-3
-5
Remember, the higher the negative number the lower its value
3 .
The temperature is -5o. If it falls 2o what is the temperature now?
7o
-3o
-7o
3o
-5 - 2= -7
4 .
Which is the next number in the following sequence? 0, -1, -2, -3, -4
5
-4
-5
-6
Negative numbers go down in the same sequence that positive numbers go up in
5 .
The temperature is 4o. If it falls 8o what is the temperature now?
0o
-3o
-4o
-8o
One way to work this out is to split the 8 into 4 and 4 like this:
4 - 4 = 0
0 - 4 - = -4
6 .
Which of these statements is true?
-1 < -4
-2 < -6
2 < -2
-5 < -3
The symbol < means less than. The smaller part of the symbol is next to the smallest number
7 .
Which of these statements is true?
-3 > 3
-1 > -7
-5 > -2
-4 > -3
The symbol > means greater than. The larger part of the symbol is next to the largest number
8 .
Which are the missing numbers -1, -2, __, -4, -5, __?
-3 and -6
3 and 6
-3 and 6
3 and -6
This sequence is going down by 1 each time
9 .
The temperature is -3o. If it rises 12o what is the temperature now?
9o
-9o
-15o
3o
-3 + 12 is the same as 12 - 3
10 .
The temperature is -8o. If it rises 3o what is the temperature now?
-11o
11o
-5o
5o
-8 + 3 = -5
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What are negative numbers?

Author:  Amanda Swift (Primary School Teacher & Educational Content Developer)

© Copyright 2016-2025 - Education Quizzes
Work Innovate Ltd - Design | Development | Marketing