What is smaller-5or - 17

Ok so immagine a number line

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

it goes farther to the left

answer is - 17