Free Grade 3 Introducing Negative Numbers Worksheets
Free Grade 3 worksheets for Introducing Negative Numbers: 12 real questions with a full answer key and worked solutions. Integers include negative numbers. On a number line, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding.
Free
Stretch
30 min
24
Learning objectives
Every objective is checkable, and each one maps to an activity and an assessment.
- UnderstandExplain introducing negative numbers
Explain introducing negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- ApplyCalculate introducing negative numbers
Calculate introducing negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- AnalyseCompare introducing negative numbers
Compare introducing negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- EvaluateJustify introducing negative numbers
Justify introducing negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
Prerequisites
Close these gaps first — each has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
How Introducing Negative Numbers works
Integers include negative numbers. On a number line, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding.
12 practice questions
Easy to hard, 24 marks in total. Try them first, then open the answers.
- 1.3 − (-10) = ?[1]
- 2.2 + (-10) = ?[1]
- 3.-7 + (-8) = ?[1]
- 4.-2 + 7 = ?[1]
- 5.18 × (-12) = ?[2]
- 6.-4 + 6 = ?[2]
- 7.-10 × (-18) = ?[2]
- 8.1 × 5 = ?[2]
- 9.-18 × 14 = ?[3]
- 10.-7 − 23 = ?[3]
- 11.-5 − 5 = ?[3]
- 12.14 + 26 = ?[3]
Show answers and working
1. 13
Subtracting (-10) is the same as adding 10. 3 + 10 = 13
2. -8
Start at 2 on a number line. Move 10 left. You land on -8.
3. -15
Start at -7 on a number line. Move 8 left. You land on -15.
4. 5
Start at -2 on a number line. Move 7 right. You land on 5.
5. -216
Multiply the sizes: 18 × 12 = 216. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: -216
6. 2
Start at -4 on a number line. Move 6 right. You land on 2.
7. 180
Multiply the sizes: 10 × 18 = 180. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 180
8. 5
Multiply the sizes: 1 × 5 = 5. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 5
9. -252
Multiply the sizes: 18 × 14 = 252. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: -252
10. -30
Subtracting 23 is the same as adding -23. -7 + (-23) = -30
11. -10
Subtracting 5 is the same as adding -5. -5 + (-5) = -10
12. 40
Start at 14 on a number line. Move 26 right. You land on 40.
Worked examples
-1 + (-5) = ?
- Start at -1 on a number line.
- Move 5 left.
- You land on -6.
- Answer: -6
17 × (-19) = ?
- Multiply the sizes: 17 × 19 = 323.
- Same signs give positive, different signs give negative.
- Answer: -323
- Answer: -323
18 + 21 = ?
- Start at 18 on a number line.
- Move 21 right.
- You land on 39.
- Answer: 39
Interactive practice
Free, no account required — answer on screen or print it.
Common mistakes
What learners typically get wrong, and how to fix it.
Thinks −8 is bigger than −3.
Correction: Further left on the number line means smaller.
Treats − (−4) as −4.
Correction: Two minus signs together become a plus.
Teacher tips
- · Use a vertical number line like a thermometer.
Parent tips
- · Compare winter temperatures from the weather forecast.
Real-life applications
- · Temperatures below zero, bank balances, floors below ground.
Assessment objectives
How mastery is evidenced, and which standards it maps to.
Every free resource for Introducing Negative Numbers
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Frequently asked
- Is this Grade 3 Introducing Negative Numbers worksheet really free?
- Yes. Every worksheets on FreeMathWorksheet is free to use, print and share — no account, no paywall and no watermark.
- What should a learner already know before this?
- Start with Number Formation. Each one has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
- How is the worksheet sequenced?
- Recognition first, then understanding, application, reasoning and finally mastery — the same ladder used across every free resource on the platform.
- What comes next after Introducing Negative Numbers?
- Move on to Working with Negative Numbers, Negative Numbers in Context, Integer Number Line, Adding Integers, which build directly on this idea.
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