Think of the number line'_
-infinity ...-9, -8,-7,-6, -5,-4,-3,-2,-1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 ... infinity(+)
When you move along the number line to the left you are subtracting. When you move along the number line to the right you are adding.
So if we use '-1' as our starting number, and we select '7', we move seven places to the left from '-1' to subtract (+)7 . you 'land on' '-8' a negative number.
Another example.
If we start at '(+)6 and subtract '(+)12' we will end up on '-6' You move 12 places to the left.
Another example.
Starting at '-5' and add (+)8 to it , we now move to the right by 8 places and end up on (+)3'.
Chat with our AI personalities
That is correct. If you subtract a positive number from a negative number, your result is negative.
Yes.
The result can be either positive or negative, depending on the sizes of those original two negative numbers. (-8) minus (-10) = positive 2 (-8) minus (-5) = negative 3
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.
In math when you are given a negative and a positive number, you should write down the sign of the greatest number and subtract the smaller number from the greatest number. In the problem 3 - 9, three is the positive number, and nine is the negative number. This means you should write down the negative number's sign and subtract 3 from 9, and your answer should be -6.