Question

Shanika is thinking of a rational number, but tells you its opposite. What is true about the number she is thinking of?

a- it is located at zero on the number line
b-it is to the right of zero on the number line
c- it is twice as far from zero as the number she tells you
d-it is the same distance from zero as the number she tells you

Answer 1

d. It is the same distance from zero as the number she tells you.

Explanation:

Case 1: Let Shanika thought a positive rational

number

Let the number that Shanika thought be c.

Then, the distance of it from zero = lc - Ol = c.

But, the number she told = -c

The distance of -c from zero = 10--(-c)| = c

Case 2: Let Shanika thought a negative rational number

Let the number that Shanika thought be -c (c>0).

Then, the distance of it from zero = 10--(-c)| = c.

But, the number she told = c

The distance of -c from zero = Ic-01 = c

In both cases, the number she thought is the same distance from zero as the number she tells us.