answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Interesting note: as late as the 18th century, many mathematicians considered negative numbers to be "nonsense". Negative numbers did not become universally accepted as existing until about the same time that imaginary numbers did.

Before the wide-spread acceptance of negative numbers, payments were credits and deposits were debits.

A credit subtracted the payment from your balance, while a debit added the payment to your balance.

After the advent of negative numbers, it was shown that subtraction is simply adding a negative number. So a payment (which is a subtraction) can be reinterpreted to be a negative number being added to your balance.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why are payments considered negative numbers and deposits considered positive numbers?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Is the work done by the system is considered as positive or on the system is considered as positive?

In thermodynamics, work done by the system is considered positive. Work done on the system is considered negative.


What is the agreement with regard to the direction of the conventional current flow?

Electron flow is considered to be negative to positive whereas conventional current flow is considered to be positive to negative.


Is sincere negative or positive?

Sincerity is almost universally considered a positive trait.


Is an proton positvie or negative?

Protons are considered positive.


Is stems growing upward positive or negative?

An upward direction is usually considered positive.


Is zero a positive a negative or neutral?

It is considered neutral as it has no value.


Is a positive plus a negative make a positive or a negative?

Positive + Negative = Negative Negative + Negative = Positive Positive + Positive = Positive Negative + Positive = Negative


What is a negative - positive?

Negative * positive = negative Positive * positive = positive Negative * negative = positive


Do anodes have a positive electricity charge?

The "anode" is usually considered to be "negative". However in some experiments such as Gel Electrophoresis the anode is positive.


What are some positive steps in the gun debate?

Steps that are considered positive by one side are likely to be considered negative by the opposite side.


The flow of current in electrodes is in which direction?

The flow of current in electrodes is from the negative electrode (anode) to the positive electrode (cathode). This flow is conventionally considered as the direction of electron flow.


Is 0 a negative number?

Mathematically speaking, 0 is neither positive nor negative. In machine language in computers, 0 is considered as "positive" since the negative flag is not set.