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Question 1060: Distance on the Real Number Line

On this page
  1. Original question and givens
  2. Definition and scope
  3. Step-by-step derivation
  4. Reverse checks
  5. Result
  6. This question review and source binding

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R0001-01060 · q-20260928-absolute-value-distance-0010

Original question and givens

On the real number line, a=-3 and b=-14. Compute the distance |a-b| exactly.

  • G001 — On the real number line, a=-3 and b=-14. Compute the distance |a-b| exactly.

Definition and scope

Use the original question domain, assumptions and cited MKO definitions. This item has second-context mathematical and bilingual review, with the model, answer and every arithmetic step independently recomputed from the original parameters; the source question remains a candidate.

Step-by-step derivation

S001 · implies

Before

x∈R

After

|x|=x if x≥0; |x|=−x if x<0

Conditions: none

The sign branches cover every real number, with0 in the nonnegative branch.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: absolute_definition · Uses: G001

S002 · calculation

Before

a−b := sub(-3, -14)

After

a−b = 11

Conditions: none

Compute the signed difference first, not the distance itself.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S001

S003 · implies

Before

a−b=11

After

distance=|a−b|=11

Conditions: none

Use the sign branch for the difference; the resulting distance is nonnegative.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: number_line_metric · Uses: G001, S002

S004 · calculation

Before

b−a := sub(-14, -3)

After

b−a = -11

Conditions: none

Swapping the points reverses the difference's sign.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: exact_rational_arithmetic · Uses: G001, S003

S005 · implies

Before

|a−b|=11; |b−a|=11

After

swapping endpoints preserves distance

Conditions: none

Endpoint order changes but the absolute values agree, completing the reverse audit.

Step identifiers and dependencies

Rule: distance_symmetry · Uses: G001, S004

Reverse checks

  • S005 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S004 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute b−a with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S003 · premise_and_result_audit — Check against the original data and this step's premises; a one-way implication is not an equivalence.
  • S002 · premise_and_result_audit — Recompute a−b with exact rational arithmetic, not rounded decimals.
  • S001 · premise_and_result_audit — Use ≥0 rather than >0 so that0 is not omitted.

Result

11

The full substitutions and premise checks give the original answer; source identity,format and status are unchanged.

This question review and source binding

Review date: 2026-10-26

Original questions, answers, step expressions, numeric ASTs and historical records are retained. Source candidate labels remain historical and are not overwritten as formal proof.

Source hashes and review receipts
  • input commit: 0f7be61e2c22317a4075561dc822c87d881a50db
  • original question SHA-256: 7221f53df383f4ca4ff175bbf84e4c419bde1f20d660604c4abf0a578fd010c8
  • candidate record SHA-256: a0e395caab248e4eb8120872c83c911379c9610f80d16d389ca28552e6889dab
  • semantic review receipt SHA-256: c3b44ce8ed60ada6902fb206627537d5f90ba2a867eaba43a36f903280c496cc
  • question-first witness SHA-256: 3e91602adc7f81a2671a2a3ffaf6a447028b56abc5853e8271673d76f30cd7ad
  • Lean: NOT_RUN · human review: NOT_PERFORMED
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