Patrick anPatrick scored a - 6 on round 1. Diane scored + 1 on round 1. Find the difference between Diane's and Patrick's score.

Question

Write an expression to describe the situation. Then solve.

Answer 1

Let's use a number line to help us visualize:

|-10..-9..-8..-7..-6..-5..-4..-3..-2..-1..0..1..2..3..4..5..6..7|

 

You have one point at -6 and the other at one. To look at how far two numbers are apart from one another, you take the larger, and then you subtract the smaller. One is larger than negative six, so that gives us the following:

1 - (-6) = ___

Remember the rules: when you subtract a negative, you und up making a positive. That is, the negative signs cancel out each other, and you end up adding.