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MF.SN.4 Warmup MF-026-A03-V01

Interpret absolute value as distance and use it to compare quantities and errors.

Find distance between two signed numbers

Problem

What is the distance between \(-3\) and \(5\) on a number line?

Number line from negative 5 to 6 with points marked at negative 3 and 5. A double-headed arrow above the line spans from negative 3 to 5 and is labeled distance? Open full size
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What this problem is really about

Distance between two signed locations is the absolute value of their difference. Subtract one endpoint from the other, remembering that subtracting a negative becomes addition, and then take the absolute value so the span is nonnegative. Counting from the negative point to zero and then to the positive point gives an independent check.

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Four variants of this problem type
Curriculum context
Standard
MF.SN.4
Category
Signed Numbers
Domain
Absolute Value
Objective
Interpret absolute value as distance and use it to compare quantities and errors.
Problem type
Find distance between two signed numbers