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When you are subtracting a negative from a positive or a positive from a negative, you change subtraction to addition and change the sign of the next value.

example: (-23)-(-12).......change it to........(-23)+12

Then you subtract the bigger number from the smaller number. Don't worry about the negative signs just pretend that the numbers are both positve.

Example: 23-12=11

Then you take the sign of the biggest number.

example: 23 was the bigger number and it was negative so the answer is -11

Hope this helped!

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Q: A positive number and negative do you subtract?
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Related questions

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 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 subtract a positive number equal a negative number?

Yes.


How do you subtract a positive number by a negative number?

A little awkwardly phrased, so I'll answer both ways. To subtract a negative from anything, add its positive. To subtract a positive from a negative, the equation is treated as though you are adding two postives, the result is negative.


Do you add or subtract when you have a negative number and a positive?

Subtract and add the sign of the greater number.


What happens when you subtract a negative number from a positive number?

It's the same as adding a positive number.


When adding a positive number to a negative number why do you always get a positive number?

-5+-3 = -8 ++ Add -- Add +- Subtract -+ Subtract


When you subtract a negative from a positive is that a gain or loss?

When you subtract a negative number from a positive number, it is equivalent to adding the two numbers together. Therefore, it is a gain.


How do you subtract a positive and negative number?

You have to take the negative sign away from the negative number and add them.


What happens when you subtract a positive number from a negative number?

It's the same as adding a positive number.


How do you subtract a negative number from a positive number?

you subtract the numbers then he higher number to start out with is the awnser. example: negative 3 - positive 7= 3-7=4 the higher number is 7 so i is positive. the final answer is positive 4


What is the answer you get when you subtract?

it depends if the numbers are positive or negative. if its a positive minus a negative, or switched, it will be the sign of the greater number.