Which of the following is a correct interpretation of the expression $5-8$ ? $\newline$ Choose $1$ answer: $\newline$ (A) Start at $5$ on the number line and move $8$ to the left. $\newline$ (B) Start at $5$ on the number line and move $8$ to the right. $\newline$ (C) Start at $8$ on the number line and move $5$ to the left. $\newline$ (D) Start at $8$ on the number line and move $5$ to the right.

Full solution

Q. Which of the following is a correct interpretation of the expression

5-8

\newline

Choose

1

answer:

\newline

(A) Start at

5

on the number line and move

8

to the left.

\newline

(B) Start at

5

on the number line and move

8

to the right.

\newline

8

on the number line and move

5

to the left.

\newline

(D) Start at

8

on the number line and move

5

to the right.

Understand the expression $5-8$ : Understand the expression $5-8$ . The expression $5-8$ represents a subtraction operation where $8$ is subtracted from $5$ . On a number line, this means starting at the number $5$ and moving a certain number of units away from it.
Determine direction on number line: Determine the direction of movement on the number line. $\newline$ Since we are subtracting a positive number $8$ , this means we move to the left on the number line. Moving to the right would imply addition.
Identify correct interpretation: Identify the correct interpretation among the given options. $\newline$ Option A suggests starting at $5$ and moving $8$ units to the left, which matches our understanding from Step $2$ . Therefore, Option A is the correct interpretation of the expression $5-8$ .