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The simple answer to the question is no, under no circumstances. To work out the right answer for different combinations of signs, read on. When two signs are different, take the smaller number from the bigger number and keep the sign of the bigger number.

Let's work out some examples...

* minus one (-1) and (plus) another minus one, is minus two (-2) * minus one (-1) minus (take away) one, is also minus two (-2)

So if you take away any positive number from a negative number, the result gets more and more negative as the value of the second number increases. Now let's try adding a positive number to a negative number...

* minus two (-2) plus one (+1) = minus one (-1) * minus two (-2) plus two (+2) = zero (0) * minus two (-2) plus three (+3) = one (1)

So adding a positive number to a minus number only equals a positive number when the value of the positive number is greater than the negative number.

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Q: Does a negative number minus a positive number equal a positive?
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Related questions

What does a negative number minus a positive number equal?

A negative number minus a positive number will always be a negative number.


Does a negative number minus a negative number equal a positive or negative number?

negative.


Does a negative minus a number equal a positive?

That is correct. If you subtract a positive number from a negative number, your result is negative.


Does a negative number minus a positive equal a negative?

That is correct. If you subtract a positive number from a negative number, your result is negative.


Does a negative number minus a positive number equal a positive or a negative?

A negative number minus a positive number equals a minus number( E.G -5 - [+]5 = -10)A negative number minus a negative number equals a positive number ( If the number's big enough)(E.G -5 - -5 = 0 )Hope this helps :)


What does a positive number minus a positive numbe equal?

you change the minus to a positive and change the 2nd positive number to a negative number..the answer can be either negative or positive depending on the sign of the greatest number(:


Why does a positive number minus a negative number equal a positive number?

Because minus a negative number is equivalent to plus a positive number. So, in effect, you have a positive number plus a positive number and that is going to be positive.


Does a positive number minus a negative number equal a positve number?

Well, a positive number minus a greater positive number equals a negative number. But it's impossible for a negative number to be subtracted from any number.


What does a positive minus a negative equal to?

if a positive number minus a negative number, the minus turns to a plus sign. so its positive Ex. 2- -4= 2+4=6


What would a negative number minus a positive number equal positive or negative?

Negative. Example: (-1) - (+1) = -2


How do you do Negative number minus positive number what does it equal?

a negative minus a positive is like addition, you take the negative add the positive, then make that number a negative.Example-5 - 4add them5 + 4= 9make that number a negative= -9


Why is minus plus minus equal to a positive number?

A minus plus a minus is not necessarily positive. A minus multiplied by a minus is. The reason being that the minus of a minus is a positive. It's a double negative.