Step by step
The question
Question: what is the difference between 4°C and −10°C?
difference between 4°C and −10°C
The difference is how far apart the two numbers are.
It is never negative.
difference = how far apart
1 Mark both numbers
On the number line: −10 and 4.
We go from the smaller one, −10, up to the bigger one, 4.
2 Bigger minus smaller
The bigger one minus the smaller one: 4 minus −10.
= 4 − (−10)
Taking away a negative is the same as adding.
Minus minus 10 is plus 10.
= 4 + 10
Careful!
Do not drop the minus sign of −10.
−10 is below zero, so it is further away.
Careful: not 4 − 10 = -6 ✗
4 plus 10 is 14°C.
= 14°C
So the difference is 14 degrees.
3 Check
Let's check in two parts.
From −10 up to 0 is 10.
From 0 up to 4 is 4.
10 plus 4 is 14.
So the answer is right!
−10 to 0: 10, 0 to 4: 4, 10 + 4 = 14
Let's look back.
First: mark both numbers.
Then: bigger minus smaller.
Last: check.
Answer
= 14°C