Calculator Negative 7 Minus Negative 8

When you subtract a negative number from another negative number, the result is positive. This might seem counterintuitive at first, but there's a simple rule to remember: subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive.

How to Calculate Negative 7 Minus Negative 8

The calculation is straightforward once you understand the basic rule of subtracting negative numbers. Here's how to do it:

Identify the two numbers: -7 and -8
Understand that subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive
Convert the subtraction to addition: -7 - (-8) becomes -7 + 8
Perform the addition: -7 + 8 = 1

Formula: a - (-b) = a + b

Where a is the first negative number and b is the second negative number.

Rules of Subtracting Negative Numbers

There are two key rules to remember when dealing with negative numbers in subtraction:

Rule 1: Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive

This means that -7 - (-8) is equivalent to -7 + 8. The negatives cancel out, turning the operation into simple addition.

Rule 2: Subtracting a positive is the same as adding a negative

For example, -7 - 8 is equivalent to -7 + (-8). This rule helps when you're dealing with mixed operations.

Remember: When you see two negatives in a subtraction problem, they cancel each other out, turning the operation into addition.

Example Calculation

Let's walk through a complete example to see how this works in practice.

Problem: Calculate -12 - (-5)

Identify the numbers: -12 and -5
Apply Rule 1: -12 - (-5) becomes -12 + 5
Perform the addition: -12 + 5 = -7

The result is -7, which makes sense because you're effectively adding 5 to -12, moving you closer to zero on the number line.

FAQ

Why does subtracting a negative number give a positive result?: Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive. When you subtract a negative, you're effectively moving in the positive direction on the number line.
What's the difference between -7 - (-8) and -7 - 8?: -7 - (-8) becomes -7 + 8 = 1, while -7 - 8 is -7 + (-8) = -15. The parentheses change the operation completely.
Can I use this rule for more complex equations?: Yes, the rules of subtracting negative numbers apply to all arithmetic operations. Just remember that subtracting a negative is adding a positive.
What if I have more than two negative numbers in a subtraction?: Apply the rules to each pair of numbers. For example, -3 - (-5) - (-2) becomes -3 + 5 + 2 = 4.