Step by step
The question
Question: what is the distance between 0 and −7?
distance between 0 and −7
The distance is how far apart the two numbers are.
It is never negative.
distance = how far apart
1 Mark both numbers
On the number line: −7 and 0.
We go from the smaller one, −7, up to the bigger one, 0.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: 0 minus −7.
= 0 − (−7)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 7 is plus 7.
= 0 + 7
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −7.
−7 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not 0 − 7 = -7 ✗
0 plus 7 is 7.
= 7
So the distance is 7.
3 Check
Let's check: start at −7 and go up 7.
We land on 0.
So the answer is right!
−7 + 7 = 0
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 7