Step by step
The question
Question: what is the distance between −6 and 2?
distance between −6 and 2
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: −6 and 2.
We go from the smaller one, −6, up to the bigger one, 2.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: 2 minus −6.
= 2 − (−6)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 6 is plus 6.
= 2 + 6
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −6.
−6 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not 2 − 6 = -4 ✗
2 plus 6 is 8.
= 8
So the distance is 8.
3 Check
Let's check in two parts.
From −6 up to 0 is 6.
From 0 up to 2 is 2.
6 plus 2 is 8.
So the answer is right!
−6 to 0: 6, 0 to 2: 2, 6 + 2 = 8
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 8