Free Grade 3 Working with Negative Numbers Lessons
Free Grade 3 lessons for Working with 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
Core
15 min
24
Learning objectives
Every objective is checkable, and each one maps to an activity and an assessment.
- UnderstandExplain working with negative numbers
Explain working with negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- ApplyCalculate working with negative numbers
Calculate working with negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- AnalyseCompare working with negative numbers
Compare working with negative numbers accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- EvaluateJustify working with negative numbers
Justify working with 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 Working with 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.
- 1.2 + (-2) = ?[1]
- 2.7 − (-10) = ?[1]
- 3.-2 − (-1) = ?[1]
- 4.10 + (-3) = ?[1]
- 5.3 × 7 = ?[2]
- 6.-20 × (-5) = ?[2]
- 7.13 × (-7) = ?[2]
- 8.3 + 3 = ?[2]
- 9.-20 − (-2) = ?[3]
- 10.16 − 16 = ?[3]
- 11.-23 × (-26) = ?[3]
- 12.-25 × (-16) = ?[3]
Show answers and working
1. 0
Start at 2 on a number line. Move 2 left. You land on 0.
2. 17
Subtracting (-10) is the same as adding 10. 7 + 10 = 17
3. -1
Subtracting (-1) is the same as adding 1. -2 + 1 = -1
4. 7
Start at 10 on a number line. Move 3 left. You land on 7.
5. 21
Multiply the sizes: 3 × 7 = 21. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 21
6. 100
Multiply the sizes: 20 × 5 = 100. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 100
7. -91
Multiply the sizes: 13 × 7 = 91. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: -91
8. 6
Start at 3 on a number line. Move 3 right. You land on 6.
9. -18
Subtracting (-2) is the same as adding 2. -20 + 2 = -18
10. 0
Subtracting 16 is the same as adding -16. 16 + (-16) = 0
11. 598
Multiply the sizes: 23 × 26 = 598. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 598
12. 400
Multiply the sizes: 25 × 16 = 400. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: 400
Worked examples
-6 + 10 = ?
- Start at -6 on a number line.
- Move 10 right.
- You land on 4.
- Answer: 4
19 + 20 = ?
- Start at 19 on a number line.
- Move 20 right.
- You land on 39.
- Answer: 39
-17 + 19 = ?
- Start at -17 on a number line.
- Move 19 right.
- You land on 2.
- Answer: 2
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 Working with Negative Numbers
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Frequently asked
- Is this Grade 3 Working with Negative Numbers lesson really free?
- Yes. Every lessons 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 Introducing Negative Numbers, Number Formation. Each one has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
- How is the lesson 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 Working with Negative Numbers?
- Move on to Negative Numbers in Context, Integer Number Line, Adding Integers, Subtracting Integers, which build directly on this idea.
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