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Let's locate negative 15 on the number line.
Since negative 15 is less than 0, we will move fifteen steps to the left of zero, where each step represents one whole number as follows:
Now let's look at the operation in the exercise.
Since the operation is
And the number 3 is greater than 0, we will move three steps to the right from negative 15, where each step represents one whole number as follows:
We can see that the number we reached is negative 12.
a is negative number.
b is negative number.
What is the sum of a+b?
Adding means increasing the value, which always moves right on the number line. Even though -15 is negative, adding +3 makes it less negative (closer to zero), so you move toward the positive direction.
Use this rule: Addition = Right, Subtraction = Left. When you see +3, always move 3 steps to the right, regardless of where you start!
If you're adding a negative number like , then you move left because you're actually subtracting. The negative sign changes the direction!
Yes! Think of it as: -15 + 3 = -15 + 3 = -12. But the number line helps you visualize why this works and builds better number sense.
Because |-15| > |3|. When you start with a bigger negative number and add a smaller positive number, the result stays negative. You need to add more than 15 to make it positive!
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