FAQ: What does a negative plus a negative equal?

When you are adding a negative number to a negative number, it becomes subtraction, where you start from a negative point on the numbers line and move left. For example, -3 + (-2). This reads “negative three plus negative 2”.

Is a negative plus a negative make a positive?

When you have two negative signs, one turns over, and they add together to make a positive. If you have a positive and a negative, there is one dash left over, and the answer is negative.

How do you add two negative numbers?

Adding two negative numbers together? Just add the absolute value of each number together, put a negative sign in front, and you have your answer!

Why does a negative and a negative equal a positive?

Explanation: We know that negative times anything means that it will change the sign. Ideally, the second negative should change the sign of our original number (which is also negative). So, our original negative sign is changed into a positive sign when a negative is multiplied to it.

Why is a minus times a minus a plus?

Each number has an “additive inverse” associated to it (a sort of “opposite” number), which when added to the original number gives zero. The fact that the product of two negatives is a positive is therefore related to the fact that the inverse of the inverse of a positive number is that positive number back again.

How do you plus a negative number?

Adding a negative number is the same as subtracting a positive number — that is, go down (to the left) on the number line. This rule works regardless of whether you start with a positive or negative number.

What is the rule for adding and subtracting positive and negative numbers?

When adding positive numbers, count to the right. When subtracting positive numbers, count to the left. When subtracting negative numbers, count to the right.

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