OpenOlympiad
Concept 4 of 8Foundation
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Subtracting integers

Golden rule: subtracting a number is the same as adding its opposite.

Examples:

  • 7 – 10 = 7 + (–10) = –3
  • 5 – (–3) = 5 + 3 = 8   (two minuses make a plus!)
  • (–4) – 6 = (–4) + (–6) = –10
  • (–8) – (–5) = –8 + 5 = –3
Example
Temperature was 3°C. Fell by 7°C. New temp = 3 – 7 = –4°C.
💡 Tip:Flip the subtraction into 'plus the opposite'. This one trick removes all confusion.
Prefer a video? Open YouTube search for “subtracting integers class 6

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5 questions to check what you just read.

0 / 5
  1. Q1.5 − (−3) = ?
  2. Q2.(−4) − 5 = ?
  3. Q3.0 − (−7) = ?
  4. Q4.(−5) − (−8) = ?
  5. Q5.Calculate 3 − 7 − (−4):