The Number Line Read and Respond

Integers are made up of positive whole numbers and the opposites of those numbers. Zero is also an integer, though it is neither positive or negative. The number line is a line with all integers on it. It extends forever in both directions. Numbers get bigger as you go right and get smaller as you go left.

Which of these in NOT and integer?

• -3

• 0

• 2

• 0.5

Here's a way to remember how numbers work on the number line: turn a thermometer on its side, with the high temperatures on the right. As the temperature gets higher, it goes further to the right, and when it gets colder, it goes to the left. 0 is colder than 3. But 0 isn't the coldest temperature. -8 is even colder. And -10 is even colder.

-8 is to the left of 0 on the number line; so it is smaller. And what is smaller than -8? -10 and all the other numbers to the left of -8 on the number line.

Which number is the smallest?

• -8

• -9

• 0

• 10

Absolute value is a number's distance from 0 on the number line. It is represented with tall lines around a number that look like this: | x |

So the absolute value of 3 looks like | 3 |

All negative numbers have positive absolute values. The absolute value of -8 is 8. Here are some more examples:

|-9| = 9

|14| = 14

|-82| = 82

Absolute value is almost always positive. What's the only exception? The absolute value of 0 is 0. And as we said, 0 is not positive or negative.

What is the absolute value of -14?

• 14

• -14

• 0

• 1