Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number.

Example: \(-5 - (-2) = -3\)

Video Source (03:34 mins) | Transcript

Additional Resources

• Khan Academy: Subtracting a Negative

Practice Problems

1. \(6 - (- 3) = ?\) (
   Solution

   x

   Solution: \(9\)
   Details:
   Let’s explore the patterns:
   
   \(6 - (1) = 5\)
   
   \(6 - (0) = 6\)
   
   \(6 - (-1) = 7\)
   
   \(6 - (-2) = 8\)
   
   \(\color{red} 6 - (-3) = 9\)
   
   Subtracting a negative number from a positive number result in a positive answer. This problem can also be rewritten as \(6 + 3 = 9\).
   )
2. \(4 - (- 4) = ?\) (
   Solution

   x

   Solution: \(8\)
   Details:
   Let’s explore the patterns:
   
   4 \(- (1) = 3\)
   
   4 \(- (0) = 4\)
   
   4 \(- (-1) = 5\)
   
   4 \(- (-2) = 6\)
   
   4 \(- (-3) = 7\)
   
   \(\color{red} 4 - (-4) = 8\)
   
   Subtracting a negative number from a positive number results in a positive answer. This problem can also be rewritten as \(4 + 4 = 8\).
   )
3. \(3 - (- 5) = ?\) (
   Video Solution

   x

   Solution: 8
   Details:
   

   
   (Video Source | Transcript)
   )
4. \(4 - (- 8) = ?\) (
   Video Solution

   x

   Solution: 12
   Details:
   

   
   (Video Source | Transcript)
   )
5. \(10 - (- 19) = ?\) (
   Solution

   x

   Solution:
   29
   )
6. \(48 - (- 16) = ?\) (
   Solution

   x

   Solution:
   64
   )

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