Mathematics · Glossary

What is Relative numbers?

Also known as: relative number · opposite

Definition 46.1 Primary & Middle School Mathematics · Chapter 46 — Negative Numbers

A relative number is made of a sign (++ or -) and a distance to zero: +3+3 and 3-3 are both at distance 33 from 00, on opposite sides. Positive numbers are usually written without their sign: +3=3+3 = 3. The numbers +3+3 and 3-3 are opposites of each other.

The number line extended to the left: -3 and +3 are opposite numbers, at the same distance from 0.
The number line extended to the left: 3-3 and +3+3 are opposite numbers, at the same distance from 00.
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