Differences between positive and negative numbers

This positive and negative number line worksheet was created by an experienced teacher to show your child the difference between positive and negative numbers.

Can your child use the number line to work out the difference between these pairs of numbers?

What are positive and negative numbers?

Positive and negative numbers are a key concept in KS2 maths. They represent quantities with opposite directions or values.

Positive numbers are numbers greater than zero. They are usually represented without a sign (+) because it's assumed that numbers without a sign are positive. 

Examples of positive numbers include 1, 2, 3, 100, 0.5, etc.

Negative numbers are numbers less than zero. They are typically represented with a minus sign (-) preceding the number. 

Examples of negative numbers include -1, -2, -3, -100, -0.5, etc.

How do you find the difference between a positive and a negative number using a number line?

Using a number line to find the difference between a positive and a negative number is a visual method of learning that is often used in primary schools. 

Here's how you can do it at home:

1. Draw a number line
2. Plot the numbers
3. Find the distance (the difference between two numbers on a number line is the distance between their positions)
4. Count the units: count the number of units (or steps) between the positive number and the negative number.
5. Determine the sign: if the positive number is farther to the right than the negative number, the difference will be positive. If the negative number is farther to the left than the positive number, the difference will be negative.

How will this positive and negative numbers KS2 worksheet help your child?

This teacher-created resource was designed for KS2 children and provides a colourful and fun activity with a number line included. A clear and easy-to-understand example is provided first, and then your child is asked to use their number line to work out the difference between pairs of numbers. You will find the answers on the bottom of the page (so be sure to hide this after printing!). 

Use TheSchoolRun to top up your child's maths knowledge or have a go at something more challenging, like our Adding negative numbers worksheet.