How do you subtract a negative from a positive?

Answer 1

it would go like this. say ur using 4 and -4 ok

4--4 u cant do that so u change it into this 4+4 = 8

if ur subtracting a positve from a negative it turns into an addition problem hoped that helps

Answer 2

adding and subtracting negative and positive numbers is easy if you really try! first you check if the numbers are positive or negative if they are both negative or positive (-4-5=-9,+5+4=+9) then you add If they are different then you subtract and keep the sign of the bigger number(-5+4=-1,+5-4=+1).Now try a few for yourself : -10+5,-15-4,+5+9,+19-5. GOOD LUCK AND DON'T GIVE UP!! :) p.s.dont make fun because i am only 13 :P

Answer 3

Subtracting a negative is the same as adding. For example: 5 - (-7) = 5 + 7 or 12 Think of it as similar to the English language. When I say 'He doesn't not have at least 5 cents", (ignoring the obvious grammatical error) it would be the same as saying 'He has at least 5 cents"

Answer 4

Think of a number line with 0 in the middle. A negative integer (-3) makes you go back 3 on the number line. Now if you add a positive integer (2) you go forward two integers, landing on -1.

If you are adding two negatives, the negatives cancel out and you get a positive number. In math, two wrongs make a right!

Answer 5

Its the double negative principle minus a negative = plus a positive
4 - (-4) = 4 + 4 = 8

Answer 6

The negative sign will change to a positive sign when subtracting negative numbers from positive numbers so you will simply add them together.

Answer 7

To subtract a negative from a positive to 2 minus signs go together.

For example 12-(-3) becomes 12+3. (brackets aren't necessary but make it easier to understand.