Question

Determine the distance between 6.5 and −7.2 on a number line.

Answer 1

To determine the distance between two numbers on a number line, you subtract one number from the other and take the absolute value of the result.

In this case, we have the numbers 6.5 and -7.2. The formula for distance \(d\) between two numbers \(a\) and \(b\) is:

\[
d = |a - b|
\]

Substituting the values:

\[
d = |6.5 - (-7.2)|
\]

This simplifies to:

\[
d = |6.5 + 7.2|
\]

Now, we perform the addition:

\[
6.5 + 7.2 = 13.7
\]

Finally, we take the absolute value:

\[
d = |13.7| = 13.7
\]

Thus, the distance between 6.5 and -7.2 on the number line is \( \boxed{13.7} \).