Arbitrary Convention
Three panels pose 'why negative instead of positive?' about electrons, the number line, and math class, each answered 'arbitrary convention.'
Use this cartoon
Free for classrooms, worksheets, slides and other non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0, with credit to Ben Orlin.
Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2017-06-05-arbitrary-convention/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)Transcript
"Why do we call electrons negative, instead of positive?" "Arbitrary convention."
"Why is the left of a number line negative, instead of positive?" "Arbitrary convention."
"Why is the typical experience of mathematical education negative, instead of positive?" "Arbitrary convention."