Final answer:
To solve -2 -(-6), we change the subtraction of a negative number to addition, resulting in -2 + 6. After applying the addition rules for numbers with opposite signs, we end up with 4.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the expression -2 - (-6), we need to understand the rule of subtraction of integers. Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its positive counterpart. Therefore, -2 - (-6) becomes -2 + 6, because the double negative turns into a positive. A number line would show this as starting at -2 and moving 6 units to the right, landing on positive 4.
Following the rule of addition for numbers with opposite signs, we subtract the smaller number from the larger and give the result the sign of the larger number. Therefore, 6 (larger positive number) minus 2 (smaller negative number) equals 4, and because the larger number 6 is positive, our result is also positive. Thus, -2 - (-6) = 4.
On a number line, we would start at -2 and move 6 units to the right, ending at positive 4. This visual representation helps confirm our calculation and understanding of the rules of addition and subtraction with negative numbers.