Math With AmarA C A D E M Y
All math animations

Grade 6 · Signed arithmetic

Elevation survey: Add signed changes

Elevation survey investigation: add signed changes. Change the quantities, follow the motion, and explain the result using the displayed mathematical relationship.

Predict what will happen, press Play, then pause and explain what changed. Every control also works without playback.

Watch the relationship

Paused
Elevation survey: Add signed changes. Starting value: -4. Current position: -4. Final signed sum: -6Position + signed change-24-1201224-4 + (-2) = -6Current position: -4
The number line has equal spacing and a fixed range of −24 to 24. Values are in generic units. Playback interpolates one change continuously; it is not a second changing input.

Starts paused. Play once, pause anywhere, or use Step to inspect the mathematics. Playback stops when this panel leaves the screen.

Make it your experiment

Change one value. Notice what follows.

The controls adjust the model. Numbers below describe the current frame. Decimals are rounded.

Starting value
-4
Current position
-4
Final signed sum
-6

HD animation studio

From experiment to screen.

Present a crisp Canvas scene, save a full-HD image, or capture your model as a silent video.

Understand what you are seeing

The idea behind the motion.

A signed change has both size and direction. Start at the original value and move right for a positive change or left for a negative one. The endpoint is a sum, while the distance traveled is the absolute value of the change. This investigation begins with starting value = -4; signed change = -2. Treat the named setting as a constructed classroom model, then explain which relationships would still hold if its numbers changed.

A relationship to keep

final = start + signed change

Read the symbols alongside the explanation. A diagram shows the relationship; the assumptions tell you when it applies.

  1. STEP 1

    Represent the given quantities

    Locate the starting value on the number line before moving; its sign identifies its side of zero.

  2. STEP 2

    Follow the changing model

    Playback traces the signed change from the starting value. Intermediate positions illustrate the motion, not extra additions.

  3. STEP 3

    Check and explain the relationship

    Check the endpoint by addition, then reverse the change to recover the starting value.

Your turn to explain

Make a prediction. Test your reasoning.

Elevation survey: Start at -4 and apply a change of -2. Where do you finish?

Use the values specified in the question. Reset restores the initial values for this investigation.

Compare your explanation

-4 + (-2) = -6. Reversing the change recovers -4.

Work through a full lesson

Connect the animation to a worked example and practice questions.

Grade 6 · Algebra

Use negative numbers relative to a reference

Interpret a signed value as a position relative to zero.