What is negative two ninths minus negative three elevenths?

Answer 1

(-2/9) - (-3/11). Find a common denominator: [99], so we have (-22/99) - (-27/99)

Minus a negative is plus. Think of a car on a North-South road. Point the car North and that's positive; point it South and that's negative. To add, drive the car forward. To subtract, put the car in reverse and drive backward.

So [-2/9 = -22/99]: point the car South (negative direction) and drive 22/99 miles from a reference point (origin). Then [-3/11 = -27/99], the car is still pointing South, but since you are subtracting, drive backwards (North, which is positive) 27/99 miles.

So -22/99 + 27/99 = +5/99 (You will end up 5/99 miles North of the starting point)