How do you add #-5+2# using the numberline?

1 Answer
May 9, 2018

#-3#

Explanation:

Assume zero is in the middle of the numberline

All numbers to the left of zero are negative

All numbers to the right of zero are positive

Therefore, go to the left of zero for five units (notice as you go further, the numbers get increasingly smaller because you are moving farther away from zero. Then, go towards zero (to the right) two units.

This will give you #(-5)##+# #2##=##-3#