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Because adding a negative is the same as subtracting a positive. In other words, minus a plus is he same as plus a minus. For example

5+ (-3) = 5-3 = +2

5 -(+3) = 5-3 = +2

Remember

minus a plus = = minus

plus a minus = minus

plus a plus = plus

minus a minus = plus

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7y ago
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7y ago

Because by definition, adding a negative integer is the same as subtracting its positive counterpart.

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Q: Why do you use subtraction when you add a positive integer and a negative integer?
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Related questions

If you add integers that are negative then your answer will be positive?

No. Adding negative integers will result in an integer that is more negative.


What is -2 plus -1?

-3


How do you solve an equation involving subtraction of positive and negative numbers?

well it is easy to the second integer change the sigh to the opposite one and also change the subtraction sign to a adding sign and add ex 3- +5= 3+-5=-2


What happens if you add negative number by positive number?

If you add a negative number to a positive number, then it's pretty much subtraction. For instance, -5 + 7 is the same as 7-5.


The sum of two negative integers is a positive integer?

No, the sum of two negative integers is not a positive integer. For example, if you add -5 and -6 together the sum would be -11.


How is a negative integer less then any positive integer?

Because positive numbers are to the right of negative numbers on the number line. If you have two numbers, one the negative of the other, and you add the positive to the negative, you get zero. If you add the positive to zero, you get a positive number. So positive numbers are an increase from zero, which is an increase from negative numbers. A negative number may have a greater absolute value than a positive number, but it will always be less than a positive number.


How can you predict the sign of the sum of a positive and a negative integer before you add the numbers?

If the absolute value of the positive integer is greater than the absolute value of the negative integer, then the sum of the two will be positive.If the absolute value of the positive integer is less than the absolute value of the negative integer, then the sum will be negative.If the absolute values of the two integers are the same then the sum will be zero, which has neither a negative nor a positive sign.


When you add a negative integer with a negative integer do you get a positive integer?

Negative. Sorry. No you do not. Adding a negative to a negative gives you a number that is even more negative. Picture a number line. A negative number is to the left of zero, and adding a negative number moves further left. ■


What are the rules for adding and subtracting integers?

when you add two positive integers the answer is always positive when you add two negative integers the answer is positive when you add one negative and on positive integer, the answer is negative subtracting two negative numbers gets a negative answer subtracting two positive numbers- the answer depends subtracting a negative and positive number- the answer depends, the positive number would have to be bigger than the negative to achieve a negative number, and if the positive number is less, than the answer is still negative


Does the sum of a negative integer and a positive integer always zero?

No,because if you add -5 and 10 you get 5 which is not equal to zero. They way you would get 0 as an answer is if you add a negative integer and it's opposite like -5 and 5. Then your answer would be zero.


What is a signed counting number?

It means that you add a sign (plus or minus).


What is always true about the sum of a negative and a positive integer?

nothing here is an example -4+5=1 4+(-5)=-1unless you add negative to negative or positive to positive then you'd keep the sign