Solve 3-(-2): Subtracting Negative Numbers on a Number Line

Question

3(2)= 3-(-2)=

-7-7-7-6-6-6-5-5-5-4-4-4-3-3-3-2-2-2-1-1-1000111222333444555777666

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solve
00:03 Negative times negative is always positive
00:08 Open parentheses
00:16 The number is directed, positive
00:21 Movement towards the positive side of the axis is to the right
00:24 Therefore we'll take 3 and then 2 jumps to the right
00:30 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's remember the rule:

(x)=+ -(-x)=+

We'll write the exercise in the appropriate form:

3+(2)= 3+(2)=

We'll locate the number 3 on the number line, from which we'll move 2 steps to the right (since 2 is greater than zero):

-7-7-7-6-6-6-5-5-5-4-4-4-3-3-3-2-2-2-1-1-1000111222333444555777666

We can see that we've reached the number 5.

Answer

5 5