Solve -5-(-2): Using Number Line to Subtract Negative Numbers

Question

$-5-(-2)=$

00:00 Solve

00:03 Negative times negative always equals positive

00:06 Let's open the parentheses

00:11 The number is directed, positive

00:14 Movement towards the positive side of the axis is to the right

00:18 We'll take from point (-5) 2 units towards the positive direction (right)

00:24 And this is the solution to the question

Let's remember the rule:

$-(-x)=+x$

Therefore, the exercise we received is:

$-5+2=$

We'll locate minus 5 on the number line and move two steps to the right (since 2 is greater than zero):

We can see that we've arrived at the number minus 3.

$-3$