Question

is negative 9 greater or is positive 9 greater. Explain.

Answer 1

positive 9 because it is lager than 0 and -9 is smaller than zero

Answer 2

negative numbers are below 0 positive numbers are greater than 0

Answer 3

I prefer to say -9 is less than zero not smaller

Answer 4

9>-9
BCOZ -9,-8,-7,-6,-5,-4,-3,-2,-1<0>1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

Answer 5

saying larger and smaller often conjures up images relating to size, which later in mathematics may not be helpful. no, i have not gone mad

Answer 6

it is not a question of which is greater. magnitude wise both are same. they are just conventions we use to analyse and represent certain phenomena. it depends on the situation where you are using the concept of +ve and -ve numbers.

Answer 7

I would respectfully disagree abhinayreddy. The magnitude of the numbers presented was not at issue, however if you were to place them on a number line and wanted to the correct mathematical inequality between them .. then it is a question of which is greater.

Answer 8

in pure mathematics where we visualise numbers on a number line, i agree that -9 is onto the left hand side of +9 and therefore is greater than +9. but the question wasn't clear as to what context the values were compared. can u tell me an instance where in the concept of number system is applied in real world, in which u can meaningfully define which of the two given numbers i.e, -9 and +9 is greater?