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Your question is not completely there with the English and it is a bit confusing, so I'll tell you what to do in all cases when subtracting numbers:

First I'll tell you how to deal with addition:

  • If the sign of both numbers is the same
Ignoring the sign add the numerical (ie absolute) values of the numbers and keep the sign of the numbers for the answer, examples:

1 + 2 = 3

-1 + -2 = -(1 + 2) = -3

  • Otherwise the signs of the numbers are different
Ignoring the signs subtract the (absolute) smaller number from the (absolute) larger number and keep the sign of the larger number (for the answer), examples:

-4 + 3 = -(4 - 3) = -1

4 + -3 = 4 - 3 = 1

eg -1 - 3 = -1 + -3 = -(1 + 3) = -4

eg 1 - -3 = 1 + -(-3) = 1 + 3 = 4

To deal with a subtraction, convert it into an addition and then use the rules above.

To convert a subtraction to an addition, change the sign of the second number, examples:

1 - 2 = 1 + (-2)

1 - (-2) = 1 + -(-2) = 1 + 2

-1 - 2 = -1 + (-2)

-1 - (-2) = -1 + -(-2) = -1 + 2

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Q: What is the rule for subtracting a positive numbers by a negative number?
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Related questions

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


How do you substract negative numbers?

Subtracting negative numbers is exactly the same as adding the positive number.


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


Why multiplication of negative numbers equals positive?

When you multiply any number by a negative number you reverse its sign. So positive numbers become negative, and negative numbers become positive. That is the meaning of negative multiplication; it is reversal. This is similar to the way that adding a negative number has the same effect as subtracting a positive number. Negative is the opposite of positive.


What is a negative take away a negative it equals positive?

The result of subtracting a negative number minus a negative number can be positive, or negative, depending on which of the numbers is larger. It can even be zero.


What is equivalent to adding a negative number?

Subtracting its additive inverse. (In principle, this is valid for adding positive numbers as well.)


Do you get a positive number when subtracting two negative numbers?

Have the second number be greater than the first.


How do you get a negative answer when subtracting two positive numbers?

Have the second number be greater than the first.


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

equivalent to subtracting a negative


If your positive and negative number are the same does it become a negative number or positive number?

It depends on what you are doing to the two identical numbers. If you are multiplying them, it becomes a negative. If you are dividing them, it becomes a negative. If you are adding them, it will always be zero (e.g., 2+ -2 = 0, etc.). There are two ways to subtract. If you are subtracting a positive from a negative, the number remains negative. If you are subtracting a negative from a positive, or a negative from a negative, the negative becomes a positive and you just add from there.


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 (


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.