Question

Explain the sign changing part while subtracting it's confusing

Answer 1

No Sign Means Positive

If a number has no sign it usually means that it is a positive number.

Example: 5 is really +5

Adding a Positive Number

Adding positive numbers is just simple addition.

Example: 2 + 3 = 5

is really saying

"Positive 2 plus Positive 3 equals Positive 5"

We could write it as (+2) + (+3) = (+5)

Subtracting A Positive Number

Subtracting positive numbers is just simple subtraction.

Example: 6 − 3 = 3

"Positive 6 minus Positive 3 equals Positive 3"

We could write it as (+6) − (+3) = (+3)

Adding A Negative Number

Now let's see what adding and subtracting negative numbers looks like:

Example: 6 + (−3) = 3

"Positive 6 plus Negative 3 equals Positive 3"

We could write it as (+6) + (−3) = (+3)

The last two examples showed us that taking away balloons (subtracting a positive) or adding weights (adding a negative) both make the basket go down.

So these have the same result:

• (+6) − (+3) = (+3)
• (+6) + (−3) = (+3)

In other words subtracting a positive is the same as adding a negative.

Subtracting A Negative Number
6−(−3) = 6 + 3 = 9Example: What is 6 − (−3) ?

Yes indeed! Subtracting a Negative is the same as adding!

Two Negatives make a Positive