7-(-10) = 7- - 10
Whenever two signs (+ or - ) are so close together that you can put a circle around them without anything else being in the way then
if the signs are the same replace them with a +
If the signs are different replace them with a -
So - - is replaced with a + (because the 2 signs are the same).
7- - 10 = 7+10 = 17