Question

Find the value of -5 - (-4) using a number line.

Answer 1

Here, we are to start at the position of -5 on the number line, and move backwards for -4 steps, which indiciates that we need to move forward for 4 steps.

Mathematically, we have: -(-4) = +4 (Two negative signs form a positive sign). So the expression essentially becomes:

-5 - (-4) = -5 + 4

Now, we can use the number line to denote this operation:

Thus, we finally reach -1, which is the required answer.