Sub-strand: Number and Place Value—N&PV – 3
Investigate everyday situations that use integers. Locate and represent these numbers on a number line (ACMNA124)
RELATED TERMS
TEACHER INFORMATION
Positive integers/numbers
What this means
• Positive integers are whole numbers that are greater than zero. They are sometimes called counting numbers or natural numbers. The number of positive integers is indefinite.
• Students learn about negative numbers and use them when solving addition and subtraction problems.
Negative integers/numbers
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Whole number
• A whole number is any integer, either positive or negative. Sometimes the term is used to refer to only a positive integer, as definitions of the term seem to differ.
• Most students will already be familiar with negative numbers. The idea of negative numbers can be developed using a number line. Students should be taught that as the number line extends to the left of zero, the numbers –1, –2, –3 extend (equally spaced) from this point. • Students should be taught to read these numbers as, for example, ‘negative three’ for –3. Often the phrase ‘negative integer’ is used. • When the number line is extended to the left of zero, some students may not realise that negative numbers do not simply refer to whole numbers, so make sure they are shown numbers like –2.5, –1½ etc.
What to look for
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• Negative numbers are whole numbers that are less than zero. Negative numbers are the opposites of the positive numbers; i.e. for each positive integer there is a negative integer. For example, –8 is the opposite of 8.
Teaching points
© R. I . C.Publ i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• • A number line is a pictorial
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representation of real numbers. A number line is labelled with the integers in increasing order from left to right, and can extend in both directions. For any two different whole numbers on a number line, the integer on the right is greater in value than the integer on the left.
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See also New wave Number and Algebra (Year 6) student workbook (pages 13–20)
Proficiency strand(s): Understanding Fluency Problem solving Reasoning
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Number line
• Students who refer to negative numbers as ‘minus numbers’. • Students who confuse the labelling of the number line and think that positive fractions and decimals lie to the left of the zero or that negative numbers are between 0 and 1.
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Student vocabulary positive negative number line zero integer
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Australian Curriculum Mathematics resource book: Number and Algebra (Year 6)
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