I am embarrassed..Need help with 3rd grade math problem

[maraki527]

The problem is: 5+ -2= (Five plus negative two)

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

start at 5 move two spaces to the left

if it was -2 + 5 you would start at -2 and move five spaces to the right.

 

[lajones81]

I THINK I know this and I should but I wanted to ask on here to be sure!!! LOL!!

MY dd is working on adding and subtracting positive and negative problems and one has me kind of unsure of the answer.

They have to show on a line how they came up with the answer. You know...with a curved line going from one number to the other number and therefore showing the answer!!

The problem is: 5+ -2= (Five plus negative two)

-8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Can anyone help me? I am sure this is so easy I will be be even more embarrassed but I just want to be sure!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

I love the number line!!

Seriously, do not feel embarrassed at all! I am a teacher and we are currently teaching our kids this skill. I will readily admit that I'm good at math, but when some of my kids start asking questions about why two negatives equal two positives...my mind starts to go crazy!

Here's a chart that I shared with my kids:
Rules:
- - = + + (Subtract a negative = Add a positive)
+ + = + + (Add a positive = Add a positive)
- + = - - (Subtract a positive = Subtract a negative)
+ - = - + (Add a negative = Subtract a positive)

In essence, two like signs become a positive and two unlike signs become a negative.

Also, check out these websites:
http://www.mathisfun.com/
http://www.aaamath.com/

I hope this helps! (Also, I hope that I didn't type anything wrong! )

 

[mum4jenn]

Thanks again everyone!! I guess I was OVER thinking this problem!! I kept telling myself that the logical answer was 3 but the way thigs change so much I was also telling myself....Nah..That wolud be too easy!! LOL!!

Hey I like daipp and Gurgi's answers also!!

I never even had the first bit of algebra until I was in 9th grade but dd has already had some of the beginning fragments of it. Good thing she is in the gifted program. She does not like Math though so I think things will be very interesting in the next few years.