Subtracting Integers using the Number Line

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Integer Number Line
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Videos, examples, solutions, worksheets, stories and songs to help Grade 6 students learn how to subtract integers using the number line.

The following diagram shows some examples of adding and subtracting using the number line. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions on how to use the number line for adding and subtracting integers.

Method 1:

One way of using the number line for subtracting integers is to move in the opposite direction of adding integers.
To add a positive integer, move to the right on the number line.
To add a negative integer, move to the left on the number line.
To subtract a positive integer, move to the left on the number line.
To subtract a negative integer, move to the right on the number line.

Examples:
5 - 2 =
-5 - 2 =
-4 - -7 =

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How to think about adding and subtracting integers on a number line?
Use a happy and sad model.
Positive is happy side.
Negative is sad side.

Examples:
(+3) + (+2) =
(+3) + (-2) =
(+3) - (+2) =
(+3) - (-2) =

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Method 2:

To subtract an integer, we can rewrite it as adding the opposite.
For eg.
3 − 2 = 3 + (−2)
3 − (−2) = 3 + (+2)
Then, we use the number line the same way as in adding integers.
To add a positive integer, move to the right on the number line.
To add a negative integer, move to the left on the number line.

Subtracting Integers using the number line

Example:
-7 - (-2) = -7 + (+2)

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Subtracting integers using the number line (method 2)

Examples:
-6 - 8 =
7 - 12 =
-8 - -5 =

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Examples:

1. Which direction would you move to?
   Add a positive number
   Subtract a positive number
   Add a negative number
   Subtract a negative number
   

How would we model these problems on the number line?
8 - 10
-6 - -1
3 - -5

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