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Last updated on September 19, 2025
Negative rational numbers are less than zero. They can be written as a fraction where both the numerator and the denominator are integers, and the denominator is not zero. Examples include -1/2, -3/4, or -7.
Negative rational numbers include whole numbers, decimals, or fractions that have a negative sign (-) in front. Examples include -1/2, -4, and -3/5.
A number line is an endless line that extends infinitely on both sides. It has 0 as its midpoint; numbers to the right of 0 are positive, and numbers to the left are negative. Like other numbers, negative rational numbers can also be represented on a number line. Let’s see how:
Example 1: Represent -3/4
Example 2: Represent -1.5
It is a fraction that represents a number with a negative sign either in front of the fraction or in the numerator.
For example, - a/b, where a and b are positive integers.
You can see that the negative sign is placed in front of the fraction, which is in its lowest (simplest) form. It is important to note that the denominator is always positive.
Examples:
Here, the numbers -4/6, -6/8, and -10/20 are simplified by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD).
There are many real-life applications of negative rational numbers that we use. Here are some examples:
Understanding negative rational numbers can be tricky for many students, especially when dealing with signs, operations, and simplification. These tips will help build confidence and accuracy in working with negative rational numbers.
What is - 2/5 + (-1/5) ?
-3/5
Both numbers are negative and have the same denominator, so we add their absolute values and keep the negative sign.
What is -4/7 - (-2/7) ?
-2/7
Rewriting the double negative, we get -4/7 + 2/7 because subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive. Adding the numerators, -4 + 2 = -2. Since the denominator is the same, we should retain it. So the final answer is -2/7.
What is -3/4 -2/5 ?
-23/20
When subtracting, we find the common denominator and combine:
So, -3/4 - 2/5 = -15/20 - 8/20 = -23/20.
What is -5/6 ÷ 1/2 ?
-5/3
Dividing by a fraction means multiplying by its reciprocal. So, -5/6 2/1 = -10/6. simplifying the fraction, we get -5/3.
Which is greater - 3/4 or - 1/2 ?
-1/2
On the number line, numbers closer to zero are greater. Since -1/2 is closer to zero than -3/4, so it is greater
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.