Class 6 Maths · Original EZT practice
The Other Side of Zero (Class 6 Chapter 10): summary and practice
Temperatures below zero, floors below ground, money you owe. Chapter 10 introduces integers: whole numbers, their negatives and zero. All questions are original EZT tutor practice following the chapter's own section order. Edition note: this page covers the new NCERT book Ganita Prakash (Grade 6). Older Class 6 books numbered chapters differently - check your chapter title, not just the number.
8 original worked examples, 8 fresh self-check questions and 4 mixed questions, with explained answers. These are not copied textbook exercises, an official chapter index or a full answer key. No affiliation with NCERT is claimed.
Official sources for topic and edition context, checked 20 October 2026:
1. Integers and the number line
Integers are the counting numbers, their negatives and zero. On a number line numbers grow to the right. Every positive integer has an opposite on the other side of zero; the opposite of five is minus five, and zero is its own opposite.
2. The token model
Let a yellow token be plus one and a red token be minus one. One yellow and one red together make a zero pair (value zero). To add integers, combine tokens and remove zero pairs.
3. Integers in other places
Temperatures, lift floors, bank balances and heights above and below sea level all use positive and negative values. Negative means below the reference point (zero).
4. Explorations with integers
Adding a positive moves right on the number line; adding a negative moves left. The distance between two integers is the larger minus the smaller.
Choose, solve, check, then try a fresh question.
Before calculating, read the method prompt and name the condition that makes it useful. Write your own attempt. Open the steps only when you need them, and use the check to catch a wrong sign, unit or interpretation. Finish with the fresh question before reading its answer.
Compare two negative integers
Choose the method: Place both on the number line; the one further right is greater.
EZT practice question
Which is greater, minus two or minus seven?
Show the worked solution
- On the number line, minus two sits two steps left of zero.
- Minus seven sits seven steps left of zero.
- Minus two is further right.
Answer: Minus two is greater - it lies to the right of minus seven on the number line.
Check: Right on the number line always means greater.
Watch for this: Do not pick the bigger-looking number; with negatives the smaller absolute value is greater.
Now try it yourself
What is the opposite of minus nine?
Check your answer
Nine.
Opposites sit equally far from zero on the two sides.
Arrange integers in increasing order
Choose the method: Sort by position on the number line, from furthest left to furthest right.
EZT practice question
Arrange minus three, four, minus eight, zero in increasing order.
Show the worked solution
- Minus eight is furthest left.
- Then minus three, then zero.
- Four is furthest right.
Answer: Minus eight, minus three, zero, four.
Check: Reading left to right on the number line gives increasing order.
Watch for this: Do not place zero before the negatives; zero is greater than every negative.
Now try it yourself
Arrange two, minus five, minus one, three from smallest.
Check your answer
Minus five, minus one, two, three.
Negatives come first, the more negative first of all.
Value tokens by removing zero pairs
Choose the method: Pair each yellow with a red and count what remains.
EZT practice question
Five yellow and three red tokens - what is the value?
Show the worked solution
- Pair one yellow with one red: a zero pair.
- Three zero pairs can be removed.
- Two yellow tokens remain.
Answer: Plus two - after removing three zero pairs, two yellow remain.
Check: Remaining yellow tokens each count plus one.
Watch for this: Do not subtract token counts without pairing; only zero pairs can be removed.
Now try it yourself
Seven yellow and seven red tokens - what is the value?
Check your answer
Zero.
Every token pairs off, leaving nothing.
Value tokens when red outnumbers yellow
Choose the method: Remove zero pairs as before; leftover red counts negative.
EZT practice question
Two yellow and six red tokens - what is the value?
Show the worked solution
- Two zero pairs can be removed.
- Four red tokens remain.
- Each red token counts minus one.
Answer: Minus four - four red tokens remain after the zero pairs go.
Check: Leftover red tokens give a negative value.
Watch for this: Do not report a positive answer when red tokens are left over.
Now try it yourself
Three yellow and eight red tokens - value?
Check your answer
Minus five.
Three zero pairs go, five red remain.
Compute a temperature after a fall
Choose the method: Start at the given temperature and count down on the number line.
EZT practice question
The temperature is four degrees Celsius and falls by seven. What is the new temperature?
Show the worked solution
- Start at four.
- Falling seven means moving seven steps left.
- Four minus seven lands at minus three.
Answer: Minus three degrees Celsius.
Check: A fall past zero takes the temperature negative.
Watch for this: Do not answer three; the fall crosses zero, so the sign matters.
Now try it yourself
The temperature is minus six degrees Celsius and then rises ten - what is the result?
Check your answer
Four degrees Celsius.
Minus six plus ten moves ten steps right, landing at four.
Track a lift moving below ground
Choose the method: Treat ground as zero and basement floors as negative.
EZT practice question
A lift starts at floor two and goes down five floors. Where does it stop?
Show the worked solution
- Start at two.
- Going down five means two minus five.
- That lands at minus three.
Answer: Floor minus three - the third floor below ground.
Check: A negative floor number means below ground level.
Watch for this: Do not stop at zero; the lift goes below ground.
Now try it yourself
An account has two hundred rupees and three hundred fifty are withdrawn - what is the balance?
Check your answer
Minus one hundred fifty rupees.
Two hundred minus three hundred fifty is minus one hundred fifty.
Add a positive to a negative
Choose the method: Start at the first number and move right by the second.
EZT practice question
What is minus three plus eight?
Show the worked solution
- Start at minus three on the number line.
- Adding eight moves eight steps right.
- You land on five.
Answer: Five - starting at minus three and moving eight right lands at five.
Check: The move crosses zero, so the result is positive.
Watch for this: Do not add the absolute values and keep a minus sign; movement right increases the number.
Now try it yourself
What is minus five plus two?
Check your answer
Minus three.
Two steps right from minus five is minus three.
Find the distance between two integers
Choose the method: Subtract the smaller from the larger.
EZT practice question
What is the distance between minus four and six?
Show the worked solution
- The larger number is six.
- Distance is six minus minus four.
- Subtracting a negative adds: six plus four is ten.
Answer: Ten - six minus minus four is the same as six plus four.
Check: From minus four to zero is four steps, then six more to six - ten in all.
Watch for this: Do not compute six minus four; the numbers are on opposite sides of zero.
Now try it yourself
What is the distance between minus seven and minus two?
Check your answer
Five.
Minus two minus minus seven is five.
Try a mixed set
Choose a method or explanation before opening each answer.
1. What are integers?
Show answer and reason
Positive whole numbers, their negatives and zero.
The chapter introduces integers as numbers on both sides of zero.
2. Which is greater, minus two or minus seven?
Show answer and reason
Minus two.
Numbers further right on the number line are greater.
3. What is a zero pair?
Show answer and reason
One yellow (plus one) and one red (minus one) token together, value zero.
Zero pairs can be removed without changing the value.
4. How do you find the distance between two integers?
Show answer and reason
Subtract the smaller from the larger.
For example six minus minus four is ten.
Try it yourself
Work these on paper before checking any notes. Answers are deliberately not shown here.
- Arrange minus six, one, minus one, zero, three in increasing order.
- Use the token model to find the value of six yellow and nine red tokens.
- The temperature is minus two degrees Celsius at night and rises nine by noon - what is the noon temperature?
Know the rule but lose track of the steps?
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Questions about this practice page
- What are integers?
- Positive whole numbers, their negatives and zero.
- Which is greater, minus two or minus seven?
- Minus two - numbers further right on the number line are greater.
- What is a zero pair in the token model?
- One yellow (plus one) and one red (minus one) token, which together have value zero.
- How do you find the distance between two integers?
- Subtract the smaller from the larger - for example, six minus minus four is ten.
- Are these the NCERT exercise questions for The Other Side of Zero?
- No. EZT pages are original practice following the chapter's section order - use them to prepare for the textbook exercises, not as a substitute for your book.