Question

a number line below
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Which of the expressions below represent the distance between -4 and 5 on the number line? [ ]= absolute value symbol
A. [-4+5]
B.[4-5]
C.[-4-5]
d.[-5-(-4)]
I believe it is D, since the absolute value of a neg. number is positive. When it is in parenthesis first you do the absolute value and the mult. by the -4 keeping the answer ranging from 5-4 on the number line.
Is this correct.
Thank you for your help

Answer 1

By just counting you know the distance is 9

the only expression that will give you 9 is
|-4-5| = |-9| = 9

You have to do the stuff inside the absolute value first, then take the absolute value.

Answer 2

Thank you, I wasn't thinking the distance, I was thinking the actual numbers of -4 and 5, you helped me see how this is done. Thanks a lot