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Contributor: Ashley Nail. Lesson ID: 13899
Today is Opposite Day! Did you know that numbers have opposites? In this lesson, you will use number lines to find the opposite of positive and negative numbers.
Raymond and his younger sister are getting ready for school. It’s Opposite Day, and they decide to dress for the opposite temperature!
Raymond looks up the temperature on his phone. It says the temperature is -8° F. Both go and get dressed before breakfast.
Raymond walks into the kitchen in summer clothes. Raymond’s sister walks in with a big puffy winter coat.
You know -8° F is cold, really cold. You also know the opposite of cold is hot.
Look at other examples of opposite numbers!
First, find positive 5 on the number line. It is 5 to the right of 0.
An opposite integer is on the other side of 0 but the same distance from zero.
So, for example, the integer +5 is on the right side of 0 and 5 spaces away from 0.
To find the opposite of +5, look to the other side of 0. You will find the integer 5 spaces away from 0 but this time to the left.
The opposite of +5 is -5.
Give it a try.
Now, take it a step further.
In math, you can use the negative symbol to show opposites.
The opposite of x is -x.
So you could write the opposite of 7 as simply -7.
If the negative symbol tells you to find the opposite, you can write it as -(-y).
Try it!
Look at y on the number line. You want to find the value of -(-y).
First, see that y = 2.
Next, find -y. You know the negative symbol tells you to find the opposite of y.
The opposite of y is -y.
-y = -2
Lastly, find -(-y).
-(-y) is telling us to find the opposite of -y or the opposite of the opposite of y.
-(-y) = 2
If you need more review first, watch the video below.
When you are ready to practice, click NEXT to visit the Got It? section.
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