Step by step
The question
Question: what is the distance between −3 and 5?
distance between −3 and 5
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: −3 and 5.
We go from the smaller one, −3, up to the bigger one, 5.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: 5 minus −3.
= 5 − (−3)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 3 is plus 3.
= 5 + 3
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −3.
−3 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not 5 − 3 = 2 ✗
5 plus 3 is 8.
= 8
So the distance is 8.
3 Check
Let's check in two parts.
From −3 up to 0 is 3.
From 0 up to 5 is 5.
3 plus 5 is 8.
So the answer is right!
−3 to 0: 3, 0 to 5: 5, 3 + 5 = 8
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 8