Subtracting its additive inverse. (In principle, this is valid for adding positive numbers as well.)
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equivalent to subtracting a negative
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Adding a negative number is equivalent to subtracting a positive number. For example, adding -3 is the same as subtracting 3. Subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding a positive number. For example, subtracting -3 is the same as adding 3. The rule to remember is that when you have a negative sign in front of a number, it actually changes its sign.
When you subtract a negative number from a positive number, it is equivalent to adding the two numbers together. Therefore, it is a gain.
The answer is in the question... You are "adding" a negative number to another negative number hence you will get a negative number! Now if you were subtracting a negative number from a negative number, the negatives will cancel out ex:subtracting> -5-(-3)=-2 .........adding>-5+(-3)=-8