Question

Which number line correctly shows –0.8 + 0.6?

A number line going from negative 1.6 to positive 1.6. An arrow goes from negative 0.8 to negative 0.2, and then backwards from 0 to negative 0.8.
A number line going from negative 1.6 to positive 1.6. An arrow goes from 0 to negative 0.8 and then from negative 0.8 to negative 1.4.
A number line going from negative 1.6 to positive 1.6. An arrow goes from 0 to 0.8 and then from 0.8 to 1.4.
A number line going from negative 1.6 to positive 1.6. An arrow goes from negative 0.6 to 0.2 and then from 0 to negative 0.6.
Mark this and return

Answer 1

The correct number line for the equation – 0.8 + 0.6 would show an arrow starting at – 0.8 and stopping at – 0.2, reflecting the addition of a negative number and a positive number with a smaller absolute value.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question is about finding which number line correctly shows the sum of two numbers with opposite signs, specifically – 0.8 and + 0.6. When adding numbers with opposite signs, one must subtract the smaller number from the larger one and take the sign of the larger number.

To add – 0.8 and 0.6, we subtract 0.6 from 0.8 which leaves us with 0.2, and since -0.8 has the larger absolute value, the sign will be negative. Thus, – 0.8 + 0.6 equals – 0.2.

The correct number line would start at – 0.8 and move towards the positive side by 0.6, landing at – 0.2. Therefore, the correct number line representation would show an arrow starting from – 0.8 and ending at – 0.2.