How can you use a number line to show that 3+(-3) = 0?

1 Answer
Apr 10, 2017

Look below for explanation.

Explanation:

Numbers on a number line can be thought of as steps and the signs for each of these number as the respective direction of those steps.

For example,

If I define my positive sign as moving from left to right then negative sign represents movement from right to left.

Now the number 3 means 3 steps in the positive direction and similarly -3 means 3 steps in the negative direction.

Now on the number line the starting position is usually called the origin which is 0.

Hence, 3 + (-3) means walking 3 steps in the positive direction (i.e. from 0 taking 3 steps we end up at point 3 on the number line) and -3 means walking 3 steps in the negative direction from the previous position (i.e. from 3 taking 3 steps back in the opposite direction we end up at 0 on the number line.)