Negative values refer to numbers that are less than zero. In mathematics, they are often used to represent a deficit or a loss. For example, if you have a bank account balance of -$50, it means you owe $50. Negative values can appear in various contexts, such as temperatures below freezing or debts in financial statements. In the context of graphs, negative values can be plotted on a coordinate system, where the horizontal axis represents positive and negative numbers. This allows for a visual representation of data, such as the performance of a stock or the change in temperature over time. Understanding negative values is essential in fields like finance, science, and engineering.