what is -5 plus 13

Natashya

less than a minute read

·

27-12-2024

1

0

Share

Understanding Positive and Negative Numbers

Before we tackle the problem "-5 plus 13," let's quickly review positive and negative numbers. Positive numbers are greater than zero and are usually written without a plus sign (e.g., 1, 5, 13). Negative numbers are less than zero and are always written with a minus sign (e.g., -1, -5, -13). Think of a number line: zero is in the middle, positive numbers are to the right, and negative numbers are to the left.

Adding Positive and Negative Numbers

Adding a positive number moves you to the right on the number line. Adding a negative number moves you to the left. So, "-5 plus 13" means we start at -5 and move 13 spaces to the right.

Solving -5 + 13

Let's visualize this on a number line:

[Insert image here of a number line showing -5 and the movement of 13 units to the right, ending at 8]

• Start at -5: This is our starting point.
• Add 13: We move 13 units to the right.
• End at 8: The final position is 8.

Therefore, -5 + 13 = 8

Another Way to Think About It

You can also think of it as subtracting the absolute values. The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero, always positive.

• The absolute value of -5 is 5.
• The absolute value of 13 is 13.

Since 13 is larger than 5, and 13 is positive, the result will be positive. Subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger: 13 - 5 = 8.

Conclusion

The solution to "-5 plus 13" is 8. Understanding the concept of positive and negative numbers on a number line can make these types of problems much easier to solve. Remember, adding a positive number moves you right, and adding a negative number moves you left.