Number Line Comparison: Finding the Largest Value from -3 to 8

Q: What does -B-A really mean if B = -2 and A = -3?

It means subtract negative B and subtract negative A. So -B-A = -(-2)-(-3). Using the rule that subtracting a negative equals adding a positive: $ -(-2) = +2 $ and $ -(-3) = +3 $, giving us 2+3 = 5.

Q: Why isn't the answer just the rightmost letter on the number line?

Because we're not looking for the largest single letter value, but the largest expression result. We need to calculate each given expression first, then compare those results.

Q: How can I double-check my double negative work?

Use the phrase "opposite of opposite". The opposite of -2 is +2, and the opposite of -3 is +3. So -B-A becomes the opposite of B plus the opposite of A: +2 + 3 = 5.

Q: What if I get confused with all the negative signs?

Write out each step slowly:Identify the letter values: B = -2, A = -3Substitute: -B-A = -(-2)-(-3)Apply double negative rule: = +2 + 3Calculate: = 5

Number Line Evaluation with Negative Operations

Choose the expression that represents the largest value.

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Understand the problem

Choose the expression that represents the largest value.

Step-by-step solution

Let's look at the number line and locate each letter:

$G+J=3+6=9$

$-B-A=-(-2)-(-3)$

$2-B=2-(-2)$

$D+E=0+1=1$

Next, we'll solve the remaining exercises remembering the rule:

$-(-x)=+x$

Therefore:

$-B-A=-(-2)-(-3)=2+3=5$

$2-B=2-(-2)=2+2=4$

G+J is the largest value.

Final Answer

$-B-A$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Number Line Reading: Each letter represents a specific integer value from -3 to 8
Double Negative Rule: -(-x) = +x, so -B-A = -(-2)-(-3) = 2+3 = 5
Compare All Results: Calculate each expression completely, then find the largest: 9 > 5 > 4 > 1 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting to apply double negative rules correctly
Don't calculate -B-A as -2-3 = -5! This ignores the negative signs in front of each letter. The expression means subtract negative B and subtract negative A, which becomes +2+3 = 5. Always convert double negatives to positives first.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

All negative numbers appear on the number line to the left of the number 0.

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How do I read the values from the number line?

Look directly below each letter to find its value. For example, A is at -3, B is at -2, C is at -1, and so on. The letters are just labels for specific positions on the number line.

What does -B-A really mean if B = -2 and A = -3?

It means subtract negative B and subtract negative A. So -B-A = -(-2)-(-3). Using the rule that subtracting a negative equals adding a positive: $-(-2) = +2$ and $-(-3) = +3$ , giving us 2+3 = 5.

Why isn't the answer just the rightmost letter on the number line?

Because we're not looking for the largest single letter value, but the largest expression result. We need to calculate each given expression first, then compare those results.

How can I double-check my double negative work?

Use the phrase "opposite of opposite". The opposite of -2 is +2, and the opposite of -3 is +3. So -B-A becomes the opposite of B plus the opposite of A: +2 + 3 = 5.

What if I get confused with all the negative signs?

Write out each step slowly:

Identify the letter values: B = -2, A = -3
Substitute: -B-A = -(-2)-(-3)
Apply double negative rule: = +2 + 3
Calculate: = 5

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