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Use the chips to add.

(a) Show how to do the problem. Click here to learn more about these chips.

-5+2
Chip Bank
+ -
+
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1 answer

To solve the problem \(-5 + 2\) using chips, you can represent positive and negative values with different colored chips. For this example, let's use:

  • Red chips to represent negative numbers (-1 each).
  • Yellow chips to represent positive numbers (+1 each).

Here's how you can set it up:

Step 1: Represent \(-5\) and \(+2\) Using Chips

  1. For -5: Place 5 red chips on the table.
  2. For +2: Place 2 yellow chips on the table.

Step 2: Combine the Chips

Now you have:

  • 5 red chips (representing -5)
  • 2 yellow chips (representing +2)

Step 3: Pair the Chips

The next step is to pair the chips:

  • Each yellow chip can cancel out one red chip.

You have 2 yellow chips and 5 red chips. When you pair them:

  • Use the 2 yellow chips to cancel out 2 of the 5 red chips.

Step 4: Count the Remaining Chips

After canceling, you are left with:

  • \(5 - 2 = 3\) remaining red chips.

Final Calculation

Since you have 3 red chips left (each representing -1), the final result is: \[ -3 \]

Conclusion

Thus, \(-5 + 2 = -3\).

You can visually represent this with the chips as below:

Red Chips (-1):   R R R R R
Yellow Chips (+1): Y Y
-------------------------
Remaining Red Chips (-3): R R R

This clearly shows the process using chips to arrive at the solution \( -5 + 2 = -3 \).