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what does a negative subtract a posotive equal

 Apr 17, 2015

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+529 
+8

negative subtract a positive?

Let's try a few concrete examples:

-7 - +2 = -9

-7 - +10 = -17

-7 - +7 = -14

So we can generalize: the answer is negative.

 

 Apr 17, 2015
 #1
avatar+529 
+8
Best Answer

negative subtract a positive?

Let's try a few concrete examples:

-7 - +2 = -9

-7 - +10 = -17

-7 - +7 = -14

So we can generalize: the answer is negative.

 

Badinage Apr 17, 2015
 #2
avatar+118587 
+5

Thanks Badinage :)

 

When plusing and minusing directed numbers always think about the number line.

If you are working in an exercise book you ccan think about 0 being in the crease of your book and the positives will be on the right and the negatives will be on the left.

Like this:

 

say I want to find -2-6

I put my pen on the -2.  I am subtracting so I go left towards the negative end.

Now i have to go left 6 places.  That will land you on -8

 Apr 17, 2015
 #3
avatar+118587 
+5

Oh I didn't quite give the whole story.

 

you can think of positive numbers as hot numbers and negaive numbers as cold numbers.

If you take away heat it gets colder so    - + = -

If you add cold into the room it gets colder    + - = -

If you add heat it gets hotter    + + = +

If you take cold away it also gets hotter     - - = +

 

These are only for when the signs are so close together that you can put a circle around them with nothing else in the way.

 

Here is some more on this topic if you are interested :)

http://web2.0calc.com/questions/it-just-doesn-t-make-sense-to-me

 Apr 17, 2015

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