If the point corresponding to the real number a on the number axis is on the left side of the origin, and the distance from the point to the origin is 5 unit lengths, then a=______ .

If the point corresponding to the real number a on the number axis is on the left side of the origin, and the distance from the point to the origin is 5 unit lengths, then a=______ .

∵ the point corresponding to the real number a on the number axis is on the left side of the origin, ∵ the number is a negative number, ∵ the distance from the point to the origin is 5 unit length, ∵ the absolute value of the number is 5, ∵ the number is - 5. So the answer is - 5