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When using the number line to solve -3 + (-2), would you move to the left or the right on the number line to find the solution?

Options:
A. Left
B. Right
C. Left and Right
D. None of the above.

User StackMonk
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

To solve -3 + (-2) on a number line, we start at -3 and move to the left two units, which leads us to -5. Leftward movement signifies a decrease or the addition of negative values. This applies to negative addition rules and the convention of positive and negative directions.

Step-by-step explanation:

When solving the math problem -3 + (-2), we must understand how to use the number line. Starting at -3, because we are adding a negative number (which effectively means we are subtracting), we move to the left. Moving to the left two units from -3 brings us to -5. Therefore, the correct movement on the number line to find the solution is to the left, not to the right, not left and right, and not none of the above.



Apart from understanding addition and subtraction on a number line, we should be aware of conventional signs. For instance, moving forward and to the right on a coordinate plane is conventionally considered positive. Conversely, any movement to the left along the horizontal axis is associated with negative values. In the context of vector addition and movements along a coordinate plane, these conventions are critical.



In this specific scenario, we follow the rule that when two negative numbers add, the answer also has a negative sign and is larger in absolute value than the original numbers. This is a fundamental concept in elementary mathematics and applies to questions involving linear equations, the coordinates of points on a graph, and other areas where understanding direction and magnitude is important.

User Janvi Vyas
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