The problem asks us to complete the subtraction equation $-1 - 6 = ?$. The given diagram represents the subtraction using integer chips. A yellow chip with a plus sign represents 1, and a pink chip with a minus sign represents $-1$.

1. Problem Description

The problem asks us to complete the subtraction equation $-1 - 6 = ?$. The given diagram represents the subtraction using integer chips. A yellow chip with a plus sign represents 1, and a pink chip with a minus sign represents $-1$.

2. Solution Steps

First, observe the integer chip model. There is one $-1$ chip and six $+1$ chips. We are given the subtraction equation $-1 - 6 = ?$.

This problem requires us to subtract 6 from $-1$.

We can represent $-1$ using one pink chip ($-1$).

We need to subtract 6, which can be visualized as taking away 6 positive chips. The diagram contains six $+1$ chips, which are all crossed out, meaning they were subtracted.

The initial value is represented by $-1 + 6(1) = -1 + 6 = 5$. We can also think of this set of chips as $-1$. The equation is $-1 - 6 = ?$.

Since we start with the configuration having one $-1$ chip and six $+1$ chips, and we are subtracting the six $+1$ chips, we are left with just the one $-1$ chip. Thus, we start with $-1$.

After subtracting $6$, we need to determine the value left over. We started with $-1$ (one pink chip) and added six $+1$ chips (yellow chips). We then subtracted the six $+1$ chips.

However, the question is to solve $-1 - 6 = ?$, where we are starting with just $-1$. We can rewrite $-1 - 6$ as $-1 + (-6)$.

$-1$ can be represented by one negative chip. $-6$ can be represented by six negative chips.

When we combine $-1$ and $-6$, we have a total of $1 + 6 = 7$ negative chips. This means the answer is $-7$.

3. Final Answer

-7