Curriculum › Math ›Grade 6

Grade 6 Math · Level 1, Division, Decimals & Signed Numbers

Opposites on the Number Line

How the lesson starts: Opposites on the Number Line

1. The mirror twins

   Welcome to the Fun Fair Mirror Hall! Twins Lila and Leo love the magic mirror at 0. Whatever Leo does, Lila copies on the other side. If Leo walks 6 steps right, Lila walks 6 steps left. Those spots are called opposites!

2. Mirror at zero

   On the number line, the mirror sits at 0. Lila stands at −6 and Leo stands at 6. Each one is 6 steps from 0, on opposite sides. So −6 and 6 are opposites. The opposite of 6 is −6, and the opposite of −6 is 6.

3. Flip the sign

   To find an opposite, just flip the sign! The opposite of 11 is −11. The opposite of −4 is 4. So −13 and 13 make an opposite pair. And 0? It sits right on the mirror, so 0 is its own opposite!