Arithmetic Grade Five
Lesson Thirty-three: Negative Numbers
It can be impractical to use a number line when subtracting. This is
especially true when larger numbers are involved. Consider this example:
So, how do we solve these problems? Since in this sample problem the number
following the minus sign is larger than the number we start with, the answer
will be negative. So, we have to remember that the answer will be negative
as a first step.
Here's another example:
Here we know the answer will be positive since the number after the minus
sign is smaller than the number we start with.
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