Question

The points -13 and 6 are plotted on a number line. What is the distance, in units, between the two points?

Answer 1

19 units

Use the absolute value to find the difference between the values. This ensures that no matter which way round the calculation is done the result is the same

| - 13 - 6 | = | - 19 | = 19

or

| 6 - (- 13) | = | 6 + 13 | = | 19 | = 19