SOLUTION: What is the difference between-6 and -8?

Question 1164182: What is the difference between-6 and -8?
Answer by Theo(13342) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
i believe the difference is going to be equal to 2.
that's the number of units each is from each other on the number line.
it is true that -6 minus -8 is equal to 2 and it is true that -8 minus -6 is equal to -2, however, it you are asked for the difference between two numbers, it is usually found by subtracting the smaller number from the larger number.
in that case, -8 is the smaller number, therefore -6 minus -8 is equal to -6 plus 8 = 2.
on the other hand, if you are asked for the result of -6 minus -8, the answer will be 2, and if you are asked for the result of -8 min8us -6, the answer will be -2.
i did look on the web for an "official" explanation and was unable to find one.
unless you are specifically told to subtract one of the numbers from the other, i would go with the absolute value of the difference, in this case being 2.
there is a website where you can ask this quetion and maybe get a better answer.
that website is http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/drmath.elem.html
you might be able to find the answer by searching their database.
alternatively, you can submit your question to them and get and hopefully get an answer in a reasonable amount of tiem.

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