The Other Side of Zero

Comparing two bank balances, -50 and -3, Zara says -50 is the bigger number because 50 is bigger than 3. Farhan disagrees. Who is right?

Trying to work out 5 − 8, Om says it has no real answer, because you can't take away more than you started with. Riya says there is an answer. Who is right?

To work out -5 + 3, Neel adds the digits and keeps the negative sign, getting -8. Sana says that's not how it works. Who is right?

Ved says 5 − (−3) will be less than 5, because subtracting always makes a number smaller. His sister says subtracting a negative number makes the answer bigger. Who is right?

A hiker's position is recorded as -20m (20m below base camp) and another hiker is at -5m. Manav says the one at -20m is higher up, since 20 is the bigger number. Aditi disagrees. Who is right?

Sara says "−n" is always a negative number, because it has a minus sign in front. Her brother says if n is itself negative, then −n becomes positive. Who is right?