Subtracting Negative Integers

Introduction to integers:

     Integers are the one of the types of numbers.  Integers are the combination of the positive integer and negative integer with zero.  Positive integers take the form of +1, +2, +3, +4 …etc. Negative integers take the form of -1, -2, -3, -4 ……. Subtracting negative integers we can subtract the both negative integers. In this topic we have to discuss about the rules of Subtracting negative integers with example problems.

Brief Explanation of Subtracting Negative Integers

Important rules:

     We can subtract the one Negative integer from another negative integer. Now the second negative integer can be changed into the terms of positive integer. Because minus into minus we can get the plus. This is one of the rules of multiplication. Now one integer is the negative integer and then the second integer is the positive integer. So we can subtract the large value from the small value and put the larger number sign as the resultant value.

Notation:

Negative integer – negative integer

That is –x - -y

It can be changed to –x + y

Here two cases arise

Case 1: y is the largest value subtract x from y and put the resultant sign as positive.

Case 2: x is the largest value subtract y from x and put the resultant sign as negative.

Example Problems

Example 1:

Subtract -5 from -9

Solution:

Given Subtract -5 from -9

It can be written as

-9 – -5

That is -9-(-5)

Now we can use the multiplication rule negative x negative = positive

Then -9 +5

Now 9 is the largest value subtract 5 from 9 and put the resultant sign as negative.

Subtracting this we can get -4

So the resultant is -4.

Example 2:

Subtract -15 from -7

Solution:

Given Subtract -15 from -7

It can be written as

-7 – -15

That is -7-(-15)

Now we can use the multiplication rule negative x negative = positive

Then -7 +15

Now 15 is the largest value subtract 7 from 15 and put the resultant sign as positive.

Subtracting this we can get +8

So the resultant is 8.