Introduction: Bela's Building of Fun

Beyond Counting Numbers

We know counting numbers start from $1, 2, 3...$. We also know $0$ represents “nothing”. But are there numbers before 0?

Imagine a building with floors above the ground and floors below the ground (basements).

• The Ground Floor is marked 0.
• Floors above ground are Positive ($+1, +2, +3...$).
• Floors below ground are Negative ($-1, -2, -3...$).

Visualizing the Building

We can represent this as a vertical number line.

The Lift Analogy

In this building, a lift takes you between floors.

• Pressing the ’+’ button moves you UP.
• Pressing the ’-’ button moves you DOWN.

If you are at the Ground Floor ($0$):

1. Press ’+’ twice $\rightarrow$ You go up 2 floors $\rightarrow$ Floor $+2$.
2. Press ’-’ twice $\rightarrow$ You go down 2 floors $\rightarrow$ Floor $-2$.

Comparison

• Floor $+3$ is higher than Floor $+2$ ($+3 > +2$).
• Floor $-1$ is higher than Floor $-2$ ($-1 > -2$). Even though $2$ looks bigger than $1$, $-2$ is lower down (more negative).