Positive and Negative numbers,help!?

Question

Okay, thanks in advance. I'm taking a test today involving postive and negative numbers and want to be pass it. But the thing is, its all confusing. Okay, I know that a negative and a positive make a negative. And two negatives make a positive. But I'm confused when to add, like the problem below:

-10+(-11)

Wouldn't I add them together to make - 21? I'm pretty sure thats right. But what about this problem:

-32 - (-12), the answer is -20, and its because they subtracted. But I thought two negatives make a positive?

Answer 1

-10+(-11) = -21

-32 - (-12) = -20

In the second one two negatives become +

so it would be the same as: -32 + 12

The answer becomes either negative or positive depending on which of the two numbers in the equation was larger---

Because -32 is larger an absolute value than 12= the difference stays negative

If it were -12 + 32 then = 22

Answer 2

Your looking at two different concepts.



A negative times a negative = a positive (multiplication)

A positive times a negative= a negative (again multiplication)



-10+(-11) equals -21



-32- (-12) think of subtracting as adding the opposite so really what your doing is



-32+(+12) then you can solve by subtracting the bigger from the smaller and using the sign of the bigger number

so you would do 32-12=20 and 32 was the bigger number so you would use its sign and its -20





Here is another example



-12-3 is the same as saying -12+(-3)

So you add them together since the signs are the same and get -15



12-36 is the same as saying (12+-36)

36-12=24 the 36 is the bigger number so you use its sign -24

Answer 3

When the signs are the same like 2 negative numbers in the first problem, you just add them and use that sign. So you're right with -21 for an answer.



The second answer, two negatives do make a positive so now your problem is -32+12. When the signs are different, you subtract and then use the sign of the bigger number.

32-12=20 Since 32 is the larger number and it was originally negative, the final answer would be negative.

Answer 4

Yes, you are right two negatives make a positive. In this case it will become +12, and -32 + 20 means: subtract 20 from -32, so answer will be -20.

Answer 5

They do... so, the -(-12) becomes +12. But then when you do -32 + 12, you get -20. Basically, you have more negatives (32) than you do positives (12) so the answer is going to be negative.

Answer 6

The two negatives that you are referring to are the two minus signs before and after the bracket

so you end up getting a positive

-32-(-12)

is the same as

-32+12

the two negatives make the positive



in the first example you have a plus and a minus sign so they form a negative

-10+(-11)

becomes

-10-11

Answer 7

you're confusing the rules for multiplication and addition/subtraction.



When you add/subrtract negative and positives, there is no rule for what it will end up (positive or negative). Just take the addition and subtraction problems slowly and break them down and follow what it says.

-32 - (-12) Break it up in your head. Negative 32, take 12 negatives from a negative 32. so yes it would be negative 20. But in the case of multiplying, that rule does apply, a positive times a negative will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS result in a negative solution no matter what. A Negative times a negative will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS result in a positive numer. -2 times -2 is the same as saying 2 times 2.

Answer 8

You are right on both counts.....



For the second problem the "-" in front of the "-12" makes it a positive 12.....so....



If you start at -32 on a number line and move 12 in a positive direction, you land on -20.



When you talk about a negative and a positive making a negative and two negatives making a positive, you are speaking of multipication....not addition. These problems are addition...

Answer 9

think of the numbers on a number line.



if the problem says to add a negative you would start to go right but see it's a negnative number so you go to the left



if the problem says to subtract a negative you would start to go left but see it's a negative number and go right.



With -32 - -12 you are already at the -32 spot so when you start to go left to subtract and see it's a negative you go right instead taking you up to a -20

Answer 10

1. u got it right



2. u also got right, if u are subtracting 2 negatives u switch the sign to addition and make the second negative (-12) postitive so it would be -32 + 12=-20

Answer 11

In your problem -32 - (-12), whenever two negative signs are right beside each other (a number minus a negative number), you can change them both to plus signs (just a rule of thumb to remember)......so it would look like: -32 + (+12), which is -32+12 = -20.....hope this helps.

Answer 12

since you are subtracting a negative its the same as adding the number (12) so pretend its -32+12



two negatives make a positive when multiplying

Answer 13

Like you said before, when you have two negatives it makes a positive... so... -32-(-12)= -32+12= 20.... just remember that when they are together it will equal a positive. My teacher taught me to "chop chop," meaning to chop the two negatives into positives. So you are really adding 12 to -32. Just take your time on the test and remember to "chop chop!"

Answer 14

In the second one, two negatives DO make a positive



-(-12) = +12

So, -32 - (-12) = -32 + 12 = -20



the first one is right.



It helps to always distribute negatives into parenthesis before adding and subtracting

Answer 15

you are correct on add and subtract. it is the multiplication where the neg's make a pos and the posx.neg make a neg.The same principle works in division..

example

(-12) /4= (-3)

Answer 16

two negatives make a positive in multiplication.



Do it this way - the FIRST number is always the way it is (positive or negative). Each number after a symbol (+,-) is the way it is UNLESS it is minus a negative. If it's minus a negative it's the same as adding.

Answer 17

The first is right



-32 - (-12)= -32 + 12 = -20



Okay?



http://www.coolmath.com

Answer 18

If the signs of the numbers you're adding are alike, add and take the common sign. (AA)



If the signs are not alike, subtract and take the sign of the "larger--looks larger!" (US)



For multiplication, it's easier...if alike, it's positive, if unlike, it's negative. and the same for division.

Answer 19

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Answer 20

yes the answer of the first one is -21

and the answer of 2nd one is -20....

it is easy man .... just be confident with ur answer