Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- Subtraction of a Positive Integer
- Subtraction of a Negative Integer
- Subtraction of Integers and Additive Inverse
- Summary
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment, we discussed subtraction of a positive integer from any integer using the number line. In this segment, we will learn how to subtract a negative integer with any integer.
Subtraction of a positive integer
Subtracting a positive integer from any integer leads to a decrease in the value of an integer. Hence, we move to the left on the number line.
For example,
6 – 2 means ‘2 less than 6’. So, we move two steps to the left of 6. Hence, 6 – 2 = 4.
2 steps to the left
-8 -7 -6
-5 -4 -3 -2 –
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
6 – 2 = 4
Subtraction of a negative integer
Subtracting a negative integer from any integer leads to an increase in the value of an integer. Hence, we move to the right on the number line.
For example,
6 – (-2) means ‘-2 less than 6’. So, we move two steps to the right of 6 on the number line.
Hence, 6 – (-2) = 8.
