Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number. To remember this, just think that whenever you see a minus () sign followed by a negative () sign, they combine into a single plus sign, like so:
A minus sign followed by a negative sign can be hard to make out, so it's considered better form to place parentheses around the negative number. For example, is the same thing as This gives
Similarly, To compute the result of adding to we start at and move places to the right:
When we do this, we land at . Therefore,
Calculate the value of
To subtract from we combine the two negative signs to make a single plus sign. This gives
$4-(-4)=$
a
|
$-8$ |
b
|
$8$ |
c
|
$16$ |
d
|
$0$ |
e
|
$-16$ |
$5-(-30)=$
a
|
$35$ |
b
|
$25$ |
c
|
$-35$ |
d
|
$-150$ |
e
|
$-25$ |
Subtract from .
To subtract from we combine the two negative signs to make a single plus sign. This gives
$-5-(-5)=$
a
|
$0$ |
b
|
$-5$ |
c
|
$-10$ |
d
|
$10$ |
e
|
$5$ |
$-45-(-25)=$
a
|
$20$ |
b
|
$70$ |
c
|
$60$ |
d
|
$-20$ |
e
|
$-70$ |
What is the value of ?
To subtract from we combine the two negative signs to make a single plus sign. This gives
To calculate we start at and move place to the right. Then, we move another places to the right:
Therefore,
$5-(-3.5)=$
a
|
$2.5$ |
b
|
$-1.5$ |
c
|
$8.5$ |
d
|
$7.5$ |
e
|
$1.5$ |
$3.5-(-4.5)=$
a
|
$-7$ |
b
|
$-1.6$ |
c
|
$8$ |
d
|
$1.5$ |
e
|
$7$ |
Find
To subtract from we combine the two negative signs to make a single plus sign. This gives
We have a common denominator of so we combine numerators:
Now, we can simplify the resulting fraction:
Note: If two fractions have different denominators, we need to put them over a common denominator first and then add or subtract!
$-\dfrac{2}{5}-\left(-\dfrac{6}{5}\right)=$
a
|
$\dfrac{4}{5}$ |
b
|
$-\dfrac{12}{5}$ |
c
|
$\dfrac{8}{5}$ |
d
|
$-\dfrac{1}{3}$ |
e
|
$-\dfrac{8}{5}$ |
$\dfrac{1}{6}-\left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)=$
a
|
$\dfrac{5}{6}$ |
b
|
$-\dfrac{4}{3}$ |
c
|
$\dfrac{1}{3}$ |
d
|
$\dfrac{4}{3}$ |
e
|
$\dfrac{1}{9}$ |
Lastly, let's recap the rules for dealing with pluses and minuses if they follow each other:
[ plus followed by minus becomes minus ]
[ minus followed by plus becomes minus ]
[ plus followed by plus becomes plus ]
[ minus followed by minus becomes plus ]