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You need to have numbers that represent the idea of taking something away. If I pile up some dirt and consider the ground as level zero. Then the height of my hill is a positive number.

If I dig a ditch, I must take dirt away. If the earth again is ground zero, the depth of my ditch can be given as a negative number.

If my hill is 101 feet high, I use 101, but if it is 101 feet deep, I use -101.

Other examples are owing money as a negative and earning as a positive.

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Q: Can you find a reason why negative numbers were invented?
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Related questions

How many places do you find negative numbers?

You find negative numbers in a variety of places, including...BanksThermometersNumber linesFootball league tablesI have been finding out where you can find negative numbers for homework.Hope this comes in handy !


Where can you find negative numbers?

Negative numbers can be found to the left of 0 on the number line.


Where can you find positive and negative numbers in your house?

Positive numbers, on your door. Negative in your freezer.


How do you find the quotient of the two numbers when one is positive and one is negative?

Pretend both the numbers are positive, find the quotient as normal and then make it negative.


How can we find the LCM of negative numbers?

The same as with positive numbers. You need at least two numbers to find a GCF.


What is a negative times a positive times a positive?

A negative. If you have a string of positive and negative numbers multiplied together, all you need to find the sign of the answer is to find the parity of the negative numbers. If there are an odd number of negatives then the answer is negative and if there are an even number of negatives then the answer is positive. Remember, positive numbers make no difference to the sign of the answer.


What happens when you use the Sum function and in the range of cells you find negative numbers?

It will still perform the calculation. The SUM function can deal with positive and negative numbers and it will deal with negative numbers correctly. So there will be no problems or errors if there are negative numbers amongst the numbers in the range of cells that it is calculating.


How do I Find the mean of negative numbers?

You find the mean of negative numbers the same way you find the mean of any numbers. You add them up and then you divide by the number of numbers. An example, using -3, -4, -6, and -9. The sum is -22. N is 4. The mean is -5.5.


Why did people find they needed negative numbers?

It had something to do with the gods


Where to find negative numbers in the world?

Math class, thermometers.


Where can you find negative numbers at home?

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How do you find the product of two numbers when both are negatives?

If both numbers are negative then all you have to do is ignore the negative signs and multiply the numbers because the negatives cancel each other out.