Calculate -5 - (-9)

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Integers · Foundations

Step by step

Question: work out −5 − (−9).

−5 − (−9)

Taking away a negative is the same as adding.

− (−) = +

So −5 − (−9) becomes −5 + 9.

= −5 + 9

Start at −5.

Go up 9.

We land on 4.

= 4

So the answer is 4.

Answer

= 4

Try this one yourself, then check:

Work out −6 − (−14)

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