Class 6 Maths Chapter 10 The Other Side of Zero – Revision Notes

As the closing chapter of the Class 6 Maths book, The Other Side of Zero introduces integers and the zero-pair model, and this page lays out the core definitions and rules in one place.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

Key Definitions

• Integers: positive counting numbers, negative numbers, and zero together (no fractions/decimals).
• Positive numbers: greater than 0. Negative numbers: less than 0. Zero: neither positive nor negative.
• Additive inverse: the number that, added to a given integer, gives 0 (inverse of +4 is –4; inverse of 0 is 0).
• Zero pair (token model): one “+” token and one “–” token together, worth 0.

Key Rules

• Class 6 covers only addition and subtraction of integers — not multiplication or division (that’s Class 7).
• On the number line, numbers increase left to right; a number further right is always greater, even among negatives (e.g., –2 > –5).
• Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the corresponding positive number: a – (–b) = a + b.
• There is no smallest integer — integers extend infinitely in both directions.

Real-Life Contexts Used in This Chapter

• Money: credits (+) and debits (–) in a bank account.
• Elevation: heights above (+) and below (–) sea level (Everest ~+8,848 m; Mariana Trench ~–10,994 m).
• Temperature: readings below 0°C in cold Indian regions like Leh, Ladakh, and Spiti Valley.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t compare negative integers like positive ones — –10 is smaller than –8, not bigger.
• Don’t forget: subtracting a negative flips to addition of the positive.
• Don’t assume integers stop somewhere — there’s no smallest (or largest) integer.

Did You Know?

The 7th-century Indian mathematician Brahmagupta was among the first in the world to formally define rules for zero and negative numbers.

One-Line Summary

Integers extend the number system below zero, and the Building of Fun (lift), the number line, and the token model are three equivalent ways to add and subtract them — with real applications in money, elevation, and temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do negative numbers represent, and where are they positioned relative to zero on a number line?
Negative numbers represent values less than zero, and on a number line they are positioned to the left of zero, extending in the opposite direction from positive numbers.

How is adding a negative number similar to subtracting a positive number?
Adding a negative number moves a value further to the left on the number line, which has exactly the same effect as subtracting an equivalent positive number.

Written by Satish

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