what is the distance between -1.3and -14

Daniel Parker

less than a minute read

·

17-03-2025

1

0

Share

What's the Distance Between -1.3 and -14? Understanding Number Line Distance

Finding the distance between two numbers, even negative ones, is straightforward. This article will show you how to calculate the distance between -1.3 and -14, explaining the concept clearly and providing a step-by-step solution.

Understanding Distance on a Number Line

Imagine a number line stretching horizontally. Zero is in the middle. Positive numbers extend to the right, and negative numbers extend to the left. The distance between any two points on the number line is simply the difference between their values, ignoring the sign (because distance is always positive).

Calculating the Distance Between -1.3 and -14

1. Identify the two numbers: We have -1.3 and -14.

2. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number: In this case, -1.3 is larger than -14 (because it's closer to zero). So we perform the subtraction: -1.3 - (-14).

3. Simplify the subtraction: Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its positive counterpart. So, -1.3 - (-14) becomes -1.3 + 14.

4. Calculate the result: -1.3 + 14 = 12.7

Therefore, the distance between -1.3 and -14 is $\boxed{12.7}$.

Visualizing the Distance

To visualize this, consider plotting both points on a number line. You'll see that -1.3 is to the right of -14. The distance between them is the length of the segment connecting these two points, which is 12.7 units.

Absolute Value and Distance

Another way to think about this is using absolute value. The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero, always positive. We can find the distance by taking the absolute difference:

|(-1.3) - (-14)| = |12.7| = 12.7

This method consistently gives the positive distance between any two points.

Conclusion

Calculating the distance between two numbers on a number line, whether they are positive or negative, involves a simple subtraction and an understanding that distance is always positive. We found that the distance between -1.3 and -14 is 12.7 units. Remember, you can always visualize this on a number line to solidify your understanding.