negative real number
Sign in to savereal number that is strictly less than zero
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A negative real number is any number that is strictly less than zero, like -5 or -2.3. These numbers matter because they let us represent things like debt, temperature below a reference point, or movements in opposite directions, making them essential for solving real-world problems in mathematics and science.
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Thermometer indicating a negative Fahrenheit temperature (−4 °F).
In mathematics, a negative number is the opposite of a positive real number. Equivalently, a negative number is a real number that is less than zero. Negative numbers are often used to represent the magnitude of a loss or deficiency. A debt that is owed may be thought of as a negative asset. If a quantity, such as the charge on an electron, may have either of two opposite senses, then one may choose to distinguish between those senses—perhaps arbitrarily—as positive and negative. Negative numbers are used to describe values on a scale that goes below zero, such as the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales for temperature. The laws of arithmetic for negative numbers ensure that the common-sense idea of an opposite is reflected in arithmetic. For example, −(−3) = 3 because the opposite of an opposite is the original value.