Difference between -12°C and -5°C

Step by step

The question

Question: what is the difference between −12°C and −5°C?

The difference is how far apart the two numbers are.

It is never negative.

1 Mark both numbers

On the number line: −12 and −5.

We go from the smaller one, −12, up to the bigger one, −5.

2 Bigger minus smaller

The bigger one minus the smaller one: −5 minus −12.

Taking away a negative is the same as adding.

Minus minus 12 is plus 12.

Careful!

Do not drop the minus sign of −12.

−12 is below zero, so it is further away.

−5 plus 12 is 7°C.

So the difference is 7 degrees.

3 Check

Let's check: start at −12 and go up 7.

We land on −5.

So the answer is right!

Let's look back.

First: mark both numbers.

Then: bigger minus smaller.

Last: check.