Opposite Numbers

Worksheet Description

This worksheet provides a list of scenarios involving quantities and directions, asking students to write the opposite of each given situation. The examples include financial gains and losses, changes in altitude, increases in quantity, changes in direction, and temperature variations relative to a fixed point. For each item, students are expected to understand the concept of opposites in the context of integers and represent this understanding numerically. The task focuses on the concept of additive inverses, where each positive number has a negative counterpart and vice versa.

The worksheet is designed to teach students the concept of the additive inverse in the realm of integers. By writing the opposite of various real-world scenarios, students practice applying the principle that every integer has an opposing integer that sums to zero. This concept is essential for understanding subtraction and solving equations in mathematics. The exercise also enhances students’ ability to think critically about numerical relationships and to recognize that integers can be used to represent both physical quantities and abstract ideas.