Question

Mark against the correct answer in each of the following:
How much less than -2 is -6?
(a) 4
(b) -4
(c) 8
(d) -8

Answer 1

Hint: In this type of question we have to use the concept of integers. Here, we have to find the number which is if subtracted from -2 will give -6. We know that if we are supposed to perform subtraction of two integers then first change the sign of the second integer. After this perform addition of these two integers with the changed sign of the second integer.

Complete step by step answer:
Now, we have to find how much less than -2 is -6.
Let us suppose that \[x\] less than -2 is -6. So that we can express these as
\[\Rightarrow -2-x=-6\]
Now we have to simplify these to obtain the value of \[x\]
First we add 6 on both sides
\[\Rightarrow -2-x+6=-6+6\]
\[\Rightarrow \left( -2+6 \right)-x=0\]
\[\Rightarrow 4-x=0\]
Now, we will add \[x\] on both the sides
\[\begin{align}
  & \Rightarrow 4-x+x=0+x \\
 & \Rightarrow 4=x \\
\end{align}\]
Hence, we can say that 4 less than -2 is -6.

So, the correct answer is “Option a”.

Note: In this type of question understanding of the question in the correct way is most important so that students have to interpret the correct meaning. One of the students may solve this question in another way with the help of number line as follows:
We consider the number line showing all the integers present in between -2 and -6 including the both. Then, we consider the number of steps that we have to jump to reach from -2 to -6 and that number of steps gives us the final answer.

Here, we can observe that when we go from -2 to -6 we have to take 4 jumps to the left of -2 and hence we can say that, 4 less than -2 is -6.
Thus, option (a) is the correct option.