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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can compare negative integers using < and >.

      Key learning points

      1. Negative integers in context can be ordered.
      2. Negative integers can be represented and compared on a number line.
      3. Negative integer comparisons can be made using the symbols < and >.

      Keywords

      • Absolute value - The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero.

      Common misconception

      That just the absolute value is considered and not the integer in its entirety.

      Encourage pupils to consider the integers as temperatures even if there are no temperature units.

      Teacher tip

      When doing the 'cool cash' part of the lesson, invite pupils to come up to the board and add further examples to the 'winning' and 'losing' temperatures. This could lead to further discussion about which temperatures are realistic.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match each statement with the correct symbol needed to go in the box to make each statement true.

      Correct Answer:$$8 \square 9$$,<

      <

      Correct Answer:$$8 +1 \square 9 -1$$,>

      >

      Correct Answer:$$8 +2 \square 9 +1$$,=

      =

      Q2.
      Select all the correct statements.

      Correct answer: (-5) < 5
      (-5) > 4
      Correct answer: (-4) < 0
      (-4) > 5

      Q3.
      Select the word that best completes this statement. 4 and $$(-4)$$ have the same __________ value.

      Correct answer: absolute
      integer
      number
      whole

      Q4.
      Select all of the correct statements.

      (-3) > (-2)
      Correct answer: (-2) > (-3)
      Correct answer: (-3) < (-2)
      (-2) < (-3)

      Q5.
      Starting with the smallest, put these numbers in ascending order of size.

      1 - (-7)
      2 - (-5)
      3 - (-4)
      4 - (-2)
      5 - (-1)

      Q6.
      Which number is 5 more than (-3) ?

      Correct Answer: 2, two

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      $$5$$ and $$(-5)$$ have the same value.

      Correct Answer: absolute

      Q2.
      Which of the following are below $$(-5)\unicode{x2103}$$

      Correct answer: $$(-8)\unicode{x2103}$$
      $$(-2)\unicode{x2103}$$
      Correct answer: $$(-12)\unicode{x2103}$$
      $$(-4)\unicode{x2103}$$
      Correct answer: $$(-7)\unicode{x2103}$$

      Q3.
      Complete this sentence: $$(-22)\unicode{x2103}$$ is than $$(-19)\unicode{x2103}$$

      Correct Answer: colder, lower, below

      Q4.
      Arrange these temperatures from coldest to warmest:

      1 - $$(-76)\unicode{x2103}$$
      2 - $$(-73)\unicode{x2103}$$
      3 - $$(-71)\unicode{x2103}$$
      4 - $$(-67)\unicode{x2103}$$
      5 - $$(-37)\unicode{x2103}$$
      6 - $$(-17)\unicode{x2103}$$

      Q5.
      Which of the following pairs of integers need the '>' symbol in the box to make them true?

      Correct answer: $$(-22)$$ $$\square$$ $$(-25)$$
      Correct answer: $$(-323)$$ $$\square$$ $$(-3232)$$
      Correct answer: $$(-401)$$ $$\square$$ $$(-410)$$
      Correct answer: $$(-2002)$$ $$\square$$ $$(-2005)$$
      $$(-12 587)$$ $$\square$$ $$(-12 578)$$

      Q6.
      Arrange these integers from smallest to largest:

      1 - $$(-4321)$$
      2 - $$(-4312)$$
      3 - $$(-4231)$$
      4 - $$(-4213)$$
      5 - $$(-4132)$$
      6 - $$(-4123)$$

      To help you plan your 7 maths lesson on: Ordering negative integers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...