difference between -8 and 3

The dfference between -8 and 3 is how far apart they are on a number line.

OR another way to put it is the biggest one minus the smaller one 

Positive numbers are always bigger than negative numbers (look at the number line and see this)

So 3 is bigger than -8

3--8 = 3+8 = 11

Now look at the number line and make sure this works there too.  How far apart are they on the number line?