document.write( "Question 1157383: Which is bigger -16 or -2 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #780233 by MathLover1(20850) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "Which is bigger $\"-16\"$ or $\"-2\"$ ?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "remember:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The $\"smallest\"$ number that we'll never be able to reach is known as \" $\"-infinity\"$ .\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"0+\"$ is not considered to be either negative or positive. Zero is the point where positive numbers end and negative numbers begin, or vice-versa. $\"Negative\"$ numbers are $\"always\"$ smaller than $\"zero\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "compare positive and negative number:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"5+%3E+1\"$ (says: $\"5\"$ is $\"greater\"$ than $\"1\"$ )
\n" ); document.write( " but
\n" ); document.write( " $\"-5+%3C+-1\"$ (says: $\"-5\"$ is $\"less\"$ than $\"-1\"$ )\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " How can $\"-5\"$ be $\"less\"$ than $\"-1\"$ ? It's $\"less\"$ because it's $\"further\"$ $\"+left\"$ on the $\"number\"$ $\"+line\"$ . \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In math problems, if you see something like: $\"abs%28-5%29=5\"$ , those two lines around the $\"-5\"$ are saying: \"get the $\"absolute\"$ value of $\"+-5\"$ .\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Numbers $\"further\"$ $\"+left\"$ on the number line are $\"always\"$ $\"+smaller\"$ than those to their right, and they $\"always\"$ have greater $\"absolute\"$ value .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore, we say $\"-5+%3C+-1\"$ because $\"abs%28-5%29=5\"$ and $\"abs%28-1%29=1\"$ and $\"5%3E1\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So, to determine which is bigger $\"-16\"$ or $\"-2\"$ compare their absolute values to see which one is $\"greater\"$ because that number will be $\"further\"$ $\"+left\"$ on the number line.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"abs%28-16%29=16\"$ and $\"abs%28-2%29=2\"$ and $\"16%3E2\"$ => $\"-16\"$ $\"further\"$ $\"+left\"$ on the number line; consequently, $\"-2%3E-16\"$ \r
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