If the absolute value of a negative number is 2.78, what is the distance on the number line between the number and its absolute value? Explain your answer.
The absolute value is given and it tells you that the original number is negative.
So the original number is -2.78
All you have to do is find the distance between -2.78 and 2.78
2.78-(-2.78)=5.56
You are not trying to find the distance from 0. That is what the absolute value is. It tells that the absolute value is 2.78.
You want the total distance between -2.78 and 2.78.
You found this to be 5.56
To check your answer you would add -2.78 +5.56=2.78
Did I explain clearly?
ok, so i drew a number line and the distance I got was -5.56.
Is this correct?
Depending which way you're looking from 2.78 to -2.78 would be -5.56 because you are moving down(left) the number line
And -2.78 to 2.78 would be 5.56 because you're moving up(right) the number line.
It might be simpler just to leave it positive. But your math was correct.
I was just about to reply and tell you that I subtracted when I was suppose to add but you replied first. :P
So when I added them together I got 0. But you said my math was correct. I'm confused. >_<