Question

On a number line, a number, b, is located the same distance from 0 as another number, a, but in the opposite direction

Answer 1

Answer:

b = -a

Step-by-step explanation:

We know that:

On a number line, the distance between 0 and b is the same distance that between 0 and a (but b and a are in opposite sides of zero).

And we know that, for example, when:

b = 2,  a = -2

Remember that the distance between two values is given by:

|n - m|

Then the distance between 0 and b is:

|0 - b|

and the distance between 0 and a is:

|0 - a|

we have:

|-b| = |-a|

|b| = |a|

But the numbers are in opposite sides of the zero, so one must be positive and the other negative, then we can conclude that:

b = -a

or

-b = a

(these are equivalent)

Then the correct option is the first option:

b = -a