Step by step
The question
Question: what is the distance between −14 and 11?
distance between −14 and 11
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: −14 and 11.
We go from the smaller one, −14, up to the bigger one, 11.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: 11 minus −14.
= 11 − (−14)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 14 is plus 14.
= 11 + 14
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −14.
−14 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not 11 − 14 = -3 ✗
11 plus 14 is 25.
= 25
So the distance is 25.
3 Check
Let's check in two parts.
From −14 up to 0 is 14.
From 0 up to 11 is 11.
14 plus 11 is 25.
So the answer is right!
−14 to 0: 14, 0 to 11: 11, 14 + 11 = 25
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 25