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Let's locate the number 5 on the number line.
Since the number 5 is greater than 0, we'll move five steps to the right from zero, where each step represents one whole number as follows:
Now let's look at the operation in the exercise.
Since the operation is
And the number minus 6 is less than 0, we'll move six steps to the left from number 5, where each step represents one whole number as follows:
We can see that we reached the number minus 1.
a is negative number.
b is negative number.
What is the sum of a+b?
Adding a negative number is like subtracting! When you add (-6), it's the same as subtracting 6. Think of it as taking away or moving backwards on the number line.
Positive numbers = move right, negative numbers = move left. The sign of the number tells you the direction, not the operation sign in front of it!
There's no difference! Both expressions equal -1. Adding a negative number gives the same result as subtracting that positive number.
Yes! If you start with a bigger positive number than the negative number you're adding. For example:
Think of it as a balance: you have 5 positive units, then you remove 6 units. You end up owing 1 unit, which is -1.
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