Find out why subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the absolute value of that number.
What is subtracting a negative the same as?
Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number — that is, go up on the number line. ... When subtracting a negative number, remember that the two back-to-back minus signs cancel each other out, leaving you with a plus sign.
What are the rules for adding and subtracting negative numbers?
Two signs
- When adding positive numbers, count to the right.
- When adding negative numbers, count to the left.
- When subtracting positive numbers, count to the left.
- When subtracting negative numbers, count to the right.
