Question

Which is bigger $$ - 16$$ or $$ - 23$$ ?

Answer 1

Hint: Here in this question, we need to find the bigger number between the two given numbers. For this, we need to compare the given number by considering the reference of the number line. For negative numbers the number which is closer or nearer to the zero is quite a bigger number by using this we get the required solution.

Complete step by step solution:
In elementary mathematics, a number line is a picture of a graduated straight line that serves as abstraction for real numbers or between two integers, the line should be divided into a number of equal parts which is the same as the denominator of the rational number.
The number pictorially represented as:

Consider the given question,
We need to find the bigger number between $$ - 16$$ and $$ - 23$$.
$$ - 16$$ is bigger than $$ - 23$$, because it's further right on the number line compare to the $$ - 23$$.
In math problems, if you see something like: $$\left| { - 16} \right|$$, those two lines around the $$ - 16$$ are saying, “get the absolute value of $$ - 16$$”.
Numbers further right on the number line are always greater than those to their left, and they always have lesser absolute value .
Therefore, we say $$ - 16 > - 23$$, because $$\left| { - 16} \right| = 16$$ and $$\left| { - 23} \right| = 23$$ and $$16 < 23$$.
Hence, $$ - 16$$ is bigger than $$ - 23$$.

Note:
 The number line which includes both positive and negative integers or numbers, Remember When dealing with negative numbers, the number whose closer to zero is the bigger number. Zero (0) has the unique distinction of being neither positive nor negative. Zero is the point where positive numbers and negative numbers begin or vice-versa. Negative numbers are always smaller than zero.