Arithmetic Grade Five

Lesson Thirty-three: Negative Numbers


Once we know whether an answer is positive, negative, or zero, we can find the difference between the numbers. Here's an example using larger numbers.

	132 - 153 = 

We know the answer will be negative since 153 is larger than 132. The easiest way to find the difference between the two numbers is to just subtract like this 153-132=21. BUT we must remember that the answer we get must be made negative and so the real answer is -21.

Here's another example:

	455 - 579 = 

We know the answer will be negative since the 579 is larger than 455, but in order to do this problem most of us will need to rewrite it like this:
	579
      - 455
     --------
        124 

BUT we keep in mind that the real answer must be negative and so we place a minus sign in front of the answer like this: -124.

Click here to go to next page