Subtracting negative numbers review

Subtracting a number is the same as adding the opposite of the number.

Let's look at two examples:

Note: In both examples, we change subtraction to addition and changed the sign of the second number to the opposite sign.

Once we have an addition problem, we can solve.

Lets subtract $-5-(-6)$minus, 5, minus, left parenthesis, minus, 6, right parenthesis.

Step 1: Rewrite as an addition problem

Step 2: Start at the first number in the addition problem, in this case $-5$minus, 5:

Step 3: Move $6$6 places to the right. We move $6$6 to the right because adding positive $6$6 increases our number by $6$6.

$-5+6$minus, 5, plus, 6 takes us to $1$1 on the number line.

Lets subtract $-4-7$minus, 4, minus, 7.

Step 1: Rewrite as an addition problem

Step 2: Start at the first number in the addition problem, in this case $-4$minus, 4:

Step 3: Move $7$7 places to the left. We move $7$7 to the left because adding negative $7$7 decreases our number by $7$7.

$-4+(-7)$minus, 4, plus, left parenthesis, minus, 7, right parenthesis takes us to $-11$minus, 11 on the number line.

Want to try some more subtracting negative numbers problems? Check out this exercise.