Since we want to find the difference between 8 and -2, we want to subtract -2 from 8. Since subtracting is equivalent to adding the same number with the opposite sign, we have the below:

Recall that subtracting integers is equivalent to adding the inverse. The inverse of a negative number is the positive number with the same magnitude.

Thus, our problem is equivalent to .

We are subtracting here, so it is important to remember that subtracting is really just adding the same number with opposite sign. Thus we can think of the problem as the following:

, which we know is equal to .

Recall the placement of numbers on the number line. is spaces to the left of , and then we add , resulting in movement to the right.

When we add these spaces we end up going spaces back to and then additional spaces to end at .

Recall that subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding the opposite. Thus,

Recall that subtracting negative numbers is equivalent to adding the opposite. Then, we have that:

Recall that subtracting is equivalent to adding the inverse:

The inverse of a negative number is a positive number: