Question

Use the number line to complete: \(-2-5=?\)

Short answer

\(-2 - 5 = -7\)

Step-by-step solution

Start at -2 on the number line

Begin at the position -2 on the number line. Since we're subtracting 5, we'll move 5 units to the left as is the standard operation to perform during subtraction.

Move to the left

As we move 5 units left from -2, our position on the number line after moving 1 unit is -3, after moving 2 units is -4, after moving 3 units is -5, after moving 4 units is -6 and after moving 5 units is -7.

Identify the final position

We have successfully moved 5 units to the left from -2, we landed on -7. This would give us the result of the subtraction, -7.