Solve the Addition Equation: Finding the Missing Number in -6 + ? = 4

Q: Why do I count steps instead of just subtracting?

Counting steps on a number line helps you visualize the problem! It's especially helpful with negative numbers. You can also solve algebraically: $ ? = 4 - (-6) = 4 + 6 = 10 $

Q: How do I know which direction to move on the number line?

You're looking for what to add to -6 to get 4. Since 4 is greater than -6, you move rightward (positive direction) from -6 toward 4.

Q: What if I need to find a negative number to add?

If the target number is smaller than your starting number, you'd move left and add a negative number. For example: -2 + ? = -5 means moving left 3 steps, so ? = -3.

Q: Can I solve this without the number line?

Absolutely! Use algebra: $ -6 + ? = 4 $ becomes $ ? = 4 - (-6) = 4 + 6 = 10 $. The number line just helps you see what's happening!

Addition Equations with Number Line Visualization

$-6+(?)=4$

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Understand the problem

$-6+(?)=4$

Step-by-step solution

To know how much we need to add to -6 to get 4, we'll count the number of steps between the numbers.

Also, we'll pay attention to which direction we moved, if we went right then the number is positive, if we went left the number will be negative.

We'll locate the number -6, and move right until we reach the number 4, where each step represents one whole number, as follows:

We'll discover that the number of steps is 10. Since we moved right, the number is positive

Final Answer

$10$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Missing Addend Rule: Use subtraction or number line jumps to find unknown
Number Line Method: Count steps from -6 to 4: 10 steps rightward
Verification Check: Substitute back: -6 + 10 = 4 matches our target ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Confusing direction with sign of the answer
Don't think moving right means the answer is negative = wrong sign! Moving right on a number line means adding a positive number. Always remember: rightward movement = positive addition, leftward = negative addition.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

a is negative number.

b is negative number.

What is the sum of a+b?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why do I count steps instead of just subtracting?

Counting steps on a number line helps you visualize the problem! It's especially helpful with negative numbers. You can also solve algebraically: $? = 4 - (-6) = 4 + 6 = 10$

How do I know which direction to move on the number line?

You're looking for what to add to -6 to get 4. Since 4 is greater than -6, you move rightward (positive direction) from -6 toward 4.

What if I need to find a negative number to add?

If the target number is smaller than your starting number, you'd move left and add a negative number. For example: -2 + ? = -5 means moving left 3 steps, so ? = -3.

Can I solve this without the number line?

Absolutely! Use algebra: $-6 + ? = 4$ becomes $? = 4 - (-6) = 4 + 6 = 10$ . The number line just helps you see what's happening!

Why is the answer 10 and not -10?

Think about it: what do you add to -6 to get 4? You need to go up by 10. If you added -10, you'd get -6 + (-10) = -16, which is much smaller than 4!

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