In which situation would students benefit from using a number line?

Using a number line can greatly enhance students' understanding of addition and subtraction of integers because it visually represents the concepts of positive and negative numbers. A number line allows students to see the relative positions of integers, which can help them grasp how adding or subtracting integers affects their value.

For instance, when adding a positive integer, students move to the right on the number line, while subtracting a positive integer involves moving to the left. This visual movement clarifies the concept that subtracting a number means removing distance from a given point. Additionally, using a number line can assist students with operations involving negative numbers, as they can clearly see the transition from negative to positive values and the relationships between them.

In contrast, the other situations presented do not lend themselves as effectively to the use of a number line. Calculating the area of a rectangle typically requires geometric reasoning rather than the linear representation of numbers. Finding the total cost of items involves operational calculations but does not necessarily benefit from the visualization offered by a number line. Organizing data into categories is related to data management and analysis, which is better addressed through charts or tables rather than linear representations.