in the middle is zero to the left ot zero is negative to the right of zero is positivee the farther to the right you are, the bigger you are the farther to the left you are,the smaller you are
negative means like backwards so -5 and -17 which would you go farther back? -5 or -17? 5 steps back or 17 steps back answer is 17 steps back or -17 steps