AQA GCSE Maths

Negative numbers

AQA GCSE Maths revision on Negative numbers. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Mathematics 8300 specification. This bank has 16 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 16)

  1. Question 1

    A student claims that multiplying two negative numbers results in a negative number because the negative signs 'stack'. Why is this incorrect?

    • A) The negative signs cancel each other out to create a positive result.
    • B) Multiplying by a negative number is equivalent to division.
    • C) The negative signs only stack during addition.
    • D) The product of two negatives must be zero.
    Show answer

    Answer: The negative signs cancel each other out to create a positive result.

    In mathematics, multiplying by a negative number represents a reflection or a reversal on the number line. Applying this operation twice essentially reverses the direction twice, returning the value to the positive side of the number line. Therefore, the negative signs effectively negate each other's influence.

  2. Question 2

    When subtracting a negative number from a positive number, what is the conceptual equivalent operation?

    • A) Subtraction of the absolute value.
    • B) Addition of the absolute value.
    • C) Division by the absolute value.
    • D) Multiplication by the absolute value.
    Show answer

    Answer: Addition of the absolute value.

    Subtracting a negative value is conceptually equivalent to moving in the opposite direction of subtraction. Since subtraction moves left on a number line, moving in the 'opposite' direction means moving right, which is the definition of addition.

  3. Question 3

    Which statement correctly describes the position of negative numbers relative to zero on a horizontal number line?

    • A) Negative numbers are to the right of zero.
    • B) Negative numbers are above zero.
    • C) Negative numbers are to the left of zero.
    • D) Negative numbers are at the same position as zero.
    Show answer

    Answer: Negative numbers are to the left of zero.

    The number line is a geometric representation of real numbers where position corresponds to value. By convention, zero is the origin, and values increasing in magnitude are placed to the right, while values decreasing below zero are placed to the left.

Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?

13 more questions on Negative numbers — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Maths spec.

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