Subtracting Integers by Adding the Opposite
In these lessons, we help Grade 6 students learn how to subtract integers by “adding the opposite”.
Related Pages
Integer Number Line
More Lessons for Grade 6 Math
Subtracting Integers Worksheet
Integer Games
The following figures show how to subtract integers by adding the opposite. Scroll down the page for more examples and solutions.
To find the opposite of an integer, we just change its sign. If it is negative, change to positive. If it is positive change to negative.
To subtract an integer, we can rewrite it as adding the opposite.
For eg.
3 − 2 = 3 + (−2)
3 − (−2) = 3 + (+2)
Then, we use the same rules as adding integers.
The rules for adding integers are:
- If the signs are the same, add the absolute value of the numbers and keep the sign.
- If the signs are different,
• subtract the smaller absolute value from the greater absolute value.
• the sign will follow the number with the greater absolute value.
How to subtract integers?
Subtracting integers same as adding the opposite.
To subtract integers, first rewrite the subtraction as adding the opposite and then complete the addition.
Examples:
-8 - 5 =
8 - 12 =
-7 - 7 =
6 - 2 =
-(-3) =
10 - (-3) =
-4 - (-9) =
-8 - (-4) =
7 - (-7) =
Subtracting Integers
This video goes through four examples on subtracting integers.
To subtract integers remember to change it into an addition problem. The first number plus the opposite of the second number.
Examples:
5 - 8 =
15 - (-4) =
-32 - 7 =
-21 - (-3) =
Rule for subtracting integers
Add the opposite
Examples:
-9 - -8 =
-10 - +7 =
-10 - -18 =
How to subtract integers by adding the opposite?
Examples:
-4 - 3 =
-4 - (-3) =
Positive and negative integers are subtracted using the “add the opposite” method
Number lines and integer counters are also used to model each example problem.
Examples:
-2 - 6 =
4 - (-5) =
-5 - (-3) =
3 - 6 =
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