Negative Numbers (Year 6)

Practise negative numbers within Number & Place Value for Year 6, with worked examples and instant feedback.

The questions below are generated to match the National Curriculum for Year 6 and get harder as you progress from Rookie to Guru.

Worked examples

RookieRead and interpret directly.

What temperature is 8°C cooler than -2°C?

  • -10°C
  • 6°C
  • 10°C
  • -6°C

Answer: -10°C. -2 − 8 = -10.

ProCompare and infer.

What is the difference between 5°C and -7°C?

  • 12°C
  • 2°C
  • 35°C
  • -2°C

Answer: 12°C. 5 − (-7) = 5 + 7 = 12.

GuruMulti-step reasoning.

A pupil writes that 4,073 has the same value as 4,73. Find the mistake.

  • The 0 holds the hundreds place — removing it changes 4,073 into 4,073 vs 473. They're very different numbers.
  • No mistake.
  • Should be 4,73 = 4,730.
  • Both 4,000.

Answer: The 0 holds the hundreds place — removing it changes 4,073 into 4,073 vs 473. They're very different numbers.. Zero is a placeholder.

Related skills

Frequently asked questions

What is negative numbers?
Practise negative numbers within Number & Place Value for Year 6, with worked examples and instant feedback.
How can my child practise negative numbers at home?
Work through the examples below, then start a free adaptive session. Northstar adjusts the difficulty automatically and tracks mastery over time.

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