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How Do You Subtract a Negative Number from a Positive Number?

Compute 8 - (-12)

Summary

  1. -12 is a negative number
  2. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive
  3. Change the addition sign to a subtraction sign
  4. Change -12 to 12
  5. 8+12=20

Notes

    1. In our problem we are subtracting a negative, -12
    2. But it would be the same to add a positive 12
    1. Remember to switch both of the signs, so now we're adding a positive 12
    1. 8+12=20
    1. In our original problem we were subtracting a -12
    2. But if we switch both signs and add a positive 12, we'll get the same answer of 20