So the equation turns into a simple addition problem.įor example: let’s say we have the problem 2 – (-3). So, instead of subtracting a negative, you’re adding a positive. Rule 4: Subtracting a negative number from a positive number – turn the subtraction sign followed by a negative sign into a plus sign. So we’re changing the two negative signs into a positive, so the equation now becomes -2 + 4.Ĭlass="green-text">The answer is -2 – (-4) = 2. This would read “negative two minus negative 4”. Basically, - (-4) becomes +4, and then you add the numbers.įor example, say we have the problem -2 - –4. So, instead of subtracting a negative, you are adding a positive. Rule 3: Subtracting a negative number from a negative number – a minus sign followed by a negative sign, turns the two signs into a plus sign. So keep counting back three spaces from -2 on the number line. Using the number line, let’s start at -2. Rule 2: Subtracting a positive number from a negative number – start at the negative number and count backwards.įor example: Say, we have the problem -2 – 3. ![]() So solve this equation the way you always have: 6 – 3 = 3. Rule 1: Subtracting a positive number from a positive number – it’s just normal subtraction.įor example: this is what you have learned before. Here are some simple rules to follow when subtracting negative numbers. When we subtract negative numbers or subtract negative numbers to positive numbers, it gets more complicated. Multiplying or dividing a positive number with a negative number is always negative.Subtracting positive numbers, such as 4 - 2, is easy.It can get a little more complicated in algebra when we work with variables, or unknowns, but for now, here are examples to show how really simple the concept is: It is written with two lines around the number, and it is simply the positive value of what’s inside the lines, whether the number is positive or negative. The absolute value of a number is the distance from \(0\), so it is always a positive number. That’s all negative numbers are they just go backward the same way that positive numbers go forward. Notice how the negative integers (the ones with the minus in front of them) are the same distance from zero (\(0\)) as the positive numbers - but they are to the left of the \(0\). Let’s first re-introduce our number line: Negative numbers seem a little scary at first, but they really aren’t that bad. Negative Numbers on the Number Line Multiplying and Dividing Negative Numbers Absolute Value Summary Table of Negative Number Operations Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers More Practice Applications of Integration: Area and Volume. ![]()
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