They aren't.
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One apple that is bad can have mold or other infectious things that spread to the other apples in a basket. If no apples are bad then they´can keep for a very long time (months) as long as their skins are undamaged and they are kept cool. A spoiled or bruised apple starts to generate ethylene gas. This starts the process in the other apples around it.
two apples
You will have 3 apples, and there will be 2 apples left.
You have 3 apples...
You cannot take three apples from two apples. Two apples is less than three. You can only take up to two apples from two apples. There is no such thing as a negative apple.