Negative numbers have a habit of complicating math. Located on the left side of zero on a number line, negative numbers grow in an opposite direction than positive ones -- the larger the negative number, the further away from zero it is and the less its overall value becomes. The rules for subtraction between negative and positive numbers depend on which number is leading and which number is being subtracted, with the sign of the leading number indicating the sign of the answer. By knowing the answer's sign beforehand, you can simplify the process by substituting addition for subtraction.
Instructions
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1
Remove the minus sign of the negative number. For an example, let the negative number be -3, which becomes 3.
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2
Add the positive number to the negative number. In this example, let the positive number be 4 -- adding 4 to 3 equals 7.
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3
Add a minus sign to the sum for the final answer. Concluding this example, 7 becomes -7.