From the starting point of - 2 on a number line, move 1 unit in the negative direction.
- 3
Practice makes perfect
We can use a number line to determine the sum - 2+(-1). When adding a positive number you move to the right on the number line. By contrast, when adding a negative number you move to the left on the number line. Starting at - 2 on a number line, we will move 1 unit to the left. This is in the negative direction.