Add without using number line: 11 + ( – 7 )

Hint: Adding one number to the other is just counting starting from the first number as many times the second number. When the second number is negative, the addition sign changes to subtraction, and the negative number is written as positive.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The addition is one of the four basic arithmetic operators.

The addition is taking two or more numbers and adding them together. The result of the addition is called the sum of two or more numbers involved in the addition operation.

To add two numbers, take the first number as a reference. Use the second number to count with the first number as the reference. But in this problem, we should not use the number line.

When we add two numbers and one of the numbers is negative, then the result can be obtained by subtracting the positive form of the negative number from the positive number.
We need to find the value of the expression 11 + ( – 7 ). – 7 is a negative number, hence, we subtract 11 from 7.

 11 + ( – 7 ) = 11 – 7

11 + ( – 7 ) = 4

Hence, the answer is 4.

Note: It is clearly stated that not to use the number line, hence, if you use the number line, the answer will not be considered. You may write – 4 as the answer, that is wrong. The sign of the bigger number is the sign of the result also.