What is the distance between the two points on a number line?
column a
column b
abc
1.
x = 4, y = –17
abc
2.
p = 23, q = 8
abc
3.
u = –1, v = –14
abc
4.
j = –3, k = 18
a.
13
b.
15
c.
21

Let's take 6, 12 as our first example. We're trying to find out the difference between the two...take 12 minus 6 and you get a difference of 6 between them.

Now the first problem, 4, -17...put the larger one first and subtract the smaller one. 4 minus negative 17 is the same as 4 plus 17 which is 21.

23-8 is 15, of course.

-1-14 is -15, but the difference between something can't be negative, so it's just 15.

18-(-3) = 18+3 = 21.