NCERT Class 6 Maths Chapter 10
The Other Side of Zero
This chapter introduces Class 6 CBSE students to negative numbers and the concept of integers, expanding the number line beyond zero to the left. Students learn how negative numbers are used in real life — for temperatures below zero, depths below sea level, and financial debts — and explore operations like addition and subtraction with integers. The chapter fundamentally extends students' understanding of the number system.
Read Online
Key Terms
- Integer
- The set of all whole numbers and their negatives: ..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ... Integers include zero but not fractions or decimals.
- Negative Number
- A number less than zero, shown with a minus sign (−), such as −1, −5, −100; they lie to the left of zero on the number line.
- Number Line
- A visual representation of numbers placed at equal intervals on a straight line, with zero in the middle, positive numbers to the right, and negative numbers to the left.
- Absolute Value
- The distance of a number from zero on the number line, always positive or zero; written as |n| (e.g., |−7| = 7).
- Opposite Numbers
- Two numbers that are the same distance from zero on the number line but on opposite sides (e.g., 5 and −5 are opposites).
- Ordering Integers
- Arranging integers from smallest to largest (ascending) or largest to smallest (descending) using the number line for reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are integers in Class 6 Maths Chapter 10?▾
Integers are the set of whole numbers including zero and their negatives: ..., -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ... Natural numbers are positive integers, and negative integers are those less than zero. Integers do not include fractions or decimals.
What are negative numbers and where are they used in Class 6?▾
Negative numbers are numbers less than zero (e.g., -5, -20). They are used in real life to represent temperatures below 0°C (e.g., -10°C in winter), floors below ground level (basement -1, -2), sea depth (−200 m), and financial losses or debts.
How do you add and subtract integers in Class 6 Maths?▾
To add integers with the same sign, add their absolute values and keep the sign. To add integers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger and keep the sign of the larger. Subtracting an integer is the same as adding its opposite: 5 − (−3) = 5 + 3 = 8.
How do you compare negative numbers in Class 6 Maths?▾
On the number line, numbers to the right are greater. So among negative numbers, the one closer to zero is greater: −2 > −7. When comparing a positive and a negative number, the positive number is always greater (e.g., 3 > −10).
What is absolute value in Class 6 Maths?▾
The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, always a positive value or zero. It is written with vertical bars: |−6| = 6 and |6| = 6. The absolute value of any number except zero is always positive.
Disclaimer & Attribution
- All NCERT textbook PDFs displayed on this page are served directly from NCERT's official servers at ncert.nic.in. We do not host, store, or redistribute any PDF files on our servers.
- This website is free to use. We do not sell, charge for, or commercially exploit any NCERT content.
- All textbook content is the intellectual property of NCERT, Government of India and is published under their open-access policy for educational purposes.
- This page is provided purely for educational reference in compliance with NCERT's guidelines for non-commercial use of their freely available materials.