Subtracting from Negative Numbers: Worksheets and Answers
How to Subtract a Positive from a Negative Number using a Number Line
Both 3 and 4 are positive numbers. We can show that they are both positive by writing a plus sign in front of each number.
However, plus signs are not necessary to show that a number is positive.
It is assumed that a number is positive unless a minus sign is written in front of it.
The plus sign means that we move in the positive direction, which is to the right on the number line.
The ‘+3’ means that we start at 0 and move three places to the right.
The ‘+4’ means that we move another four places to the right.
We have moved a total of seven places to the right on our number line.
So,
3 + 4 = 7
In the calculation below, we have ‘- 3 – 4’.
The minus sign means that we move in the negative direction, which is to the left on the number line.
The ‘-3’ means that we start at 0 and move three places to the left.
The ‘-4’ means that we move another four places to the left.
We have moved a total of seven places to the left.
So,
– 3 – 4 = – 7
In both calculations, we moved a total of seven places.
The positive signs meant that we moved a total of seven places to the right.
The negative sign meant that we moved a total of seven places to the left.
We moved 3 left and 4 left to move 7 places left on our number line.
