Step by step
The question
Question: what is the distance between −9 and −4?
distance between −9 and −4
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: −9 and −4.
We go from the smaller one, −9, up to the bigger one, −4.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: −4 minus −9.
= −4 − (−9)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 9 is plus 9.
= −4 + 9
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −9.
−9 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not −4 − 9 = -13 ✗
−4 plus 9 is 5.
= 5
So the distance is 5.
3 Check
Let's check: start at −9 and go up 5.
We land on −4.
So the answer is right!
−9 + 5 = −4
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 5