# What Are Negative Numbers?

## Operations

Do you need to add, subtract, multiply, or divide negative numbers?

Check out the pages linked below!

## Exponents and Roots

Do you need to square a negative number?

Or simplify a negative exponent?

Or maybe find the square root or the cube root of a negative?

Check out the pages linked below!

## Functions

Do you need to find the absolute value of a negative number?

Or find the log, natural log, sine, cosine, or tangent of a negative?

Check out the pages linked below!

## Reciprocals of Negative Numbers

The reciprocal of a negative number is found the same way that positive reciprocals are found.

## Negative Number Classification

Are negative numbers natural numbers?

• No, because all natural numbers are positive.

Are negative numbers whole numbers?

• No, because all whole numbers are positive or zero.

Are negative numbers integers?

• Yes and no. Some negative numbers (like -5, -13, and -2) are integers. However, some negative numbers (like -27.3, $$-\pi$$, and $$-\frac{3}{4}$$) are not integers.

Are negative numbers real numbers?

• Yes, all negative numbers are real numbers

Are negative numbers rational numbers?

• Yes and no. Some negative numbers (like -4, $$-\frac{1}{2}$$, and -28.5) are rational numbers. However, some negative numbers (like $$-2\pi$$, -e, and $$-\sqrt{7}$$) are not rational.

Are negative numbers irrational?

• Yes and no. Some negative numbers (like $$-2\pi$$, -e, and $$-\sqrt{7}$$ are irrational numbers. However, some negative numbers (like -4, $$-\frac{1}{2}$$, and -28.5\)) are not irrational.

Can negative numbers be prime?

• Sort of. Prime numbers, the way they are usually defined in middle school and high school, are only positive.
• However, in algebraic ring theory, prime numbers are defined in a way that makes two numbers like 7 and -7 essentially the same prime number.

Can negative numbers be even?

• Yes, negative numbers like -2, -4, -6,... are even numbers.

Can negative numbers be odd?

• Yes, negative numbers like -1, -3, -5,... are odd numbers.