
We can write 7 + – 1 = 6 or we can write the negative number in brackets as 7 + (-1) = 6. We will think of our negative number (-1) as an ice cube.Īdding an ice cube makes the drink colder and so, the temperature goes down.ħ – 1 = 6 and so, adding the ice cube resulted in a subtraction. By adding a negative, the value of the number drops. By adding an ice cube, the temperature drops. To understand why adding a negative number is the same as a subtraction, we can consider negative numbers as ice cubes. Replace the ‘+ -‘ in a sum with a single ‘-‘ sign. We have a positive number add a negative number. To add a negative number, simply ignore the negative sign and subtract it from the other number instead of adding it.įor example, here is 15 + – 7.
Negative plus negative positive or negative plus#
There is no need to write two plus signs in this sum. The final case shows two positive signs being replaced with one.įor example, 6 + + 3 is the same as 6 + 3, which equals 9. Two negative signs are replaced with a single addition.Ģ – – 5 is the same as 2 + 5, which equals 7. The two signs ‘-‘ are the same, so we will be performing an addition. Here is an example of subtracting a negative number. In these examples, the combination of ‘+ -‘ or ‘- +’ were replaced with a single subtraction. These rules are used when there are two signs next to each other in an equation.įor example, 10 + – 4 can be written as 10 – 4, which equals 6.ġ7 – + 6 can be written as 17 – 6, which equals 11. There are four rules for adding and subtracting negative numbers, which are:

In the case of ‘-‘, the first negative sign changes the negative sign it is next to into a ‘+’. A negative sign will change the sign next to it to have the opposite effect.

We can think of the negative sign as having an opposite effect. Here is a guide to the rules for adding and subtracting directed numbers. If there is a positive and negative sign in any order, then perform a subtraction. If there are two negative signs or two postive signs, then perform an addition. The rule for adding and subtracting negative numbers is to add the numbers if the signs are the same and to subtract the numbers if the signs are different. Rules for Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers
