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subtraction is merely adding a negative number, so subtracting a negative number is adding the negative of a negative number.

It should be pointed out that while most people find this concept obvious, it was not obvious to ancient mathematicians. In fact, as late as the 1800s, most mathematicians thought that negative numbers were nonsense.

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Q: How is an english double negative like subtracting negative number?
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Related questions

Why subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding a positive number?

equivalent to subtracting a negative


Why is subtracting a negative number a positive number?

It is a double negative, subtracting is essentially adding a negative, therefore subtracting would be a negative negative number, which would be a positive, my mom helped me remember it by thinking if a bad thing happened to a bad person, it would be good, if a good thing happened to a good person it would be good, if a bad thing happened to a good person it would be bad, ect.


What is the rule for subtracting negative numbers?

The rule for subtracting negative numbers is 'when you are subtracting a negative number from a positive or negative, you must always add it.'Example: 3--3 = 3+3 = 6


What is a negative subtracted by a negative?

Subtracting a negative number has the same effect as adding a positive number - think of it as moving right on a number line whereas, subtracting a positive number will move you left on a number line.


What are the rules for adding and subtracting integers?

when you add two positive integers the answer is always positive when you add two negative integers the answer is positive when you add one negative and on positive integer, the answer is negative subtracting two negative numbers gets a negative answer subtracting two positive numbers- the answer depends subtracting a negative and positive number- the answer depends, the positive number would have to be bigger than the negative to achieve a negative number, and if the positive number is less, than the answer is still negative


When subtracting a negative number why do you move to the right on the number line instead of the left?

Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number. Also, adding a negative number is the same as subtracting a positive number. -7 + (-5) = -7 - 5 = -12 -7 - (-5) = -7 + 5 = -2


Does subtracting one negative number from another negative number give you a positive number or another negative number?

always another negative number


How are addition and subtraction stories alike?

Addition and subtraction can be thought of as the same thing because subtracting a negative number is the same as adding it and adding a negative number is the same as subtracting it.


Is subtracting a negative number the same thing as adding a positive number?

yes


36 - -1 - 10?

You need to be aware that when subtracting a negative number (double negative), the sign changes and you instead add the number. So what you have here as 36 - -1 - 10, you can change the sign of the double negative to an addition sign, so rather it reads 36 + 1 - 10. Note that the second negative sign did not change because it is by itself, not a double negative. You end up with the result 27.


What do you get when a negative number is subtracted from a positive number?

The sign of the answer will always be a positive number because subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive (


How is adding on number line different from subtracting on a number line?

When subtracting, the number moves to the left (negative direction). When adding, the number moves to the right (positive direction).