Subtracting Negative Numbers

[mollylolly1988]

I think that establishing the rule is great, but WHY does it work? Why does subtracting a negative turn it positive?

[MuchoMath]

@mollylolly1988 Yes, this is a difficult question to answer. Even trying to explain this visually is tough. Still working on it :)

[Eye4Byooty]

"Are we on?" Haha, Great Video! Thank you Professor Perez and Charlie, great instruction as usual! For those asking WHY subtracting a negative number gives us a positive result, what helps me is thinking of a negative number as a DEBT. So if you SUBTRACT a DEBT you are INCREASING what you have, get it?

[MuchoMath]

@Eye4Byooty Thanks for stopping by! Thinking about a debt is a great way of looking at this!

[netgirl4349]

@pachooka25 Thats what I do to and it helps and lot so try it people.

[pennieroyle]

I'm a mid lifer going back to school and have forgotten the basics - thanks for the videos!!

[pyromaniac452]

I am number 16000!



[lady88569]

I HATE INTEGERS

[MuchoMath]

Yes. This is one of the dated videos that needs to be re-done this summer! Thanks for being honest!

[wierdogirlzforever27]

this makes no sense

[HesDaryl]

i really hate negatives its what really gives me a hard time

[ImAwesomeDontDeinIt]

thank you so much!it helped alot!

[ImAwesomeDontDeinIt]

thx this helped me so much! :)

[ZeroSumRuler]

I made a colorful animation-style video on how to add and subtract positive and negative numbers. I hope you give it a whirlio!

[shanadono]

hey! it's still a great video though! I hope someday I'll be comfortable enogh with calculus to teach it. I introduced infinite geometric sums this week and I got the response I expected "I thought infinity meant BIG." I told them it could also mean very small or how many pieces something is cut into. I saw a lot of open mouths as I looked around the room. It was pretty cool!

[shanadono]

negatives are a tough one. My calc professor said that calc students get caught up in algebra. I think the same is true for algebra students with negative numbers!

[MuchoMath]

@shanadonoYes, they are tough for many students. Yes, it is true about Calculus. The reason many of my students struggle with Calculus is not the Calculus...its the Algebra.

By the way, this is a dated video. I'm going to re-do and many videos to this site this summer. Best of luck to you and thanks for stopping by.

[beckchasewolfe]

thank you I REALLY appreciate it

[MuchoMath]

@beckchasewolfe Thanks everyone :) Glad I could help!

[salrico3]

funny and educational

[MuchoMath]

@salrico3 This is one of my dated videos which will be re-worked in the near future. Some think it's a bit corny...but that's cool! Thanks for the comment.

[netgirl4349]

@MuchoMath For an old video its till pretty good.

[tubolclorosis21]

thank you sooooooooo much :D

[cheetosbitch]

what about if its the oppisite way like 4- -8? like does that eman its still gunna be 12?

[WaseesMusicVideos]

yah its going to be 12 because a positive number + a negitive number is apositve number