Skip to the main content
PeabodyMake a free story

🔢 6th grade math · Counting & Numbers

Numbers below zero

Numbers less than zero are negative. They sit to the left of 0 on the number line. −5 is 5 steps left of 0, like 5 degrees below zero.

Worked example

the diver is 170 feet below sea level. Write that as a number.
Answer: −170
Zero is the middle of the line, not the end of it. 170 feet below sea level is 170 steps to the left of zero, which is −170. It is 170 away from zero — the same distance as 170, just the other way.
−170−165−160−155−150−145−140−135−130−125−120−115−110−105−100−95−90−85−80−75−70−65−60−55−50−45−40−35−30−25−20−15−10−50−170

For grown-ups: Negative numbers in context (temperature, sea level, debt). Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

  • CCSS 6.NS.C.5
What this practises, for teachers

Practices negative numbers in context (temperature, sea level, debt) (6.NS.C.5). A printable sheet with its answer key, worked answers on the page, no accounts.

▶ Practise it

For your class

🖨️ Printable sheet and key

On the board with this skill:

More printables, with answer keys, for this grade:

Try three

  1. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −5−4−3−2−101
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: −4
    Zero is the middle of the line, not the end of it. The dot sits 4 marks to the left of zero, which is −4. It is 4 away from zero — the same distance as 4, just the other way.
    −5−4−3−2−101−4
  2. the mine floor is 40 feet below sea level. Write that as a number.
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: −40
    Zero is the middle of the line, not the end of it. 40 feet below sea level is 40 steps to the left of zero, which is −40. It is 40 away from zero — the same distance as 40, just the other way.
    −40−35−30−25−20−15−10−50−40
  3. The thermometer at Anchorage reads 5 degrees below zero. Write that as a number.
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: −5
    Zero is the middle of the line, not the end of it. 5 degrees below zero is 5 steps to the left of zero, which is −5. It is 5 away from zero — the same distance as 5, just the other way.
    −6−5−4−3−2−101−5

Before and after

Learn first: Fractions on a number line (3rd)

Comes next: Negatives on a number line (6th)

Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Numbers below zero (6th grade)

  1. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −14−13−12−11−10−9−8−7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  2. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −20−19−18−17−16−15−14−13−12−11−10−9−8−7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  3. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  4. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −11−10−9−8−7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  5. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −21−20−19−18−17−16−15−14−13−12−11−10−9−8−7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  6. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −21−20−19−18−17−16−15−14−13−12−11−10−9−8−7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  7. The thermometer at the back porch reads 15 degrees below zero. Write that as a number.
  8. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −17−16−15−14−13−12−11−10−9−8−7−6−5−4−3−2−101
  9. the parking level is 120 feet below sea level. Write that as a number.
  10. What number is the dot sitting on?
    −4−3−2−101
  11. The thermometer at the summit reads 19 degrees below zero. Write that as a number.
  12. the submarine is 40 feet below sea level. Write that as a number.

Answer key

  1. −13
  2. −19
  3. −6
  4. −10
  5. −20
  6. −20
  7. −15
  8. −16
  9. −120
  10. −3
  11. −19
  12. −40

More 6th grade skills: all 6th grade math skills, or every grade at math skills.