Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the positive.

The answer may be positive or negative depending on the size of the numbers.

Work from left to right to get the answer.

Examples

15 - -21 - 5 = 15 + 21 - 5 = 36 - 5 = 31

-117 - -30 - -21= -117 + 30 + 21= -87 + 21= -66

Remember

-11 + 3

is the same as

 3 + -11

which is the same as

 3 - 11

which is -8

These may look complicated, but the key is to remember the rules for negative numbers - two negatives next to each other make a positive!!

Let's try some questions now.