Step by step
The question
Question: what is the difference between 6°C and −3°C?
difference between 6°C and −3°C
The difference is how far apart the two numbers are.
It is never negative.
difference = how far apart
1 Mark both numbers
On the number line: −3 and 6.
We go from the smaller one, −3, up to the bigger one, 6.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: 6 minus −3.
= 6 − (−3)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 3 is plus 3.
= 6 + 3
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −3.
−3 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not 6 − 3 = 3 ✗
6 plus 3 is 9°C.
= 9°C
So the difference is 9 degrees.
3 Check
Let's check in two parts.
From −3 up to 0 is 3.
From 0 up to 6 is 6.
3 plus 6 is 9.
So the answer is right!
−3 to 0: 3, 0 to 6: 6, 3 + 6 = 9
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 9°C