Question

Represent the following number on the number line. 5 – (– 3).

Answer 1

Hint: Now we know that multiplication of two negative numbers is positive. Hence we will first transform the equation and write 5 + 3. Now to represent this on the number line we will move 3 steps forward from 5.

Complete step by step answer:
A number line is basically a line where all real numbers are plotted.
Generally we take intervals as 1 and plot integers on number lines.
Now we want to represent the number 5 – (–3) on the number line.
We know that multiplication of two negative numbers is positive.
Hence (– 1) × (– 3) = + 3.
Hence using this we can write 5 – (–3) as 5 + 3.
Hence now instead of showing 5 – (–3) on the number line we will show 5 + 3 on the number line.
Now to plot a number on a number line we start with the given number.
Then to add we move right and to subtract we move left.
For example if we want to plot 0 + 10, then we will move 10 units right of 0.
Similarly if we want to plot 0 – 10, then we will move 10 units left of 0.
Hence if we want to plot 5 + 3 on the number line we will start at 5 and move 3 units to the right.
Let us check that on the number line.

Now we land up on number 8. Hence we have 5 + 3 = 8.

Note: Note that while plotting number on number line we need the expression in form of addition and subtraction. Hence we first write 5 – (–3) as 5 + 3. Since – (–3) is nothing but $\left( -1 \right)\times \left( -3 \right)$