Basics
Positive = any number greater than zero
Positive numbers are not usually accompanied by a preceding + sign.
,
, 37, 215, etc.
Negative = any number less than zero
Negative numbers are usually accompanied by a preceding – sign.
-215, -37, –, –
, etc.
– is the negative sign.
is the negative command.
Signs
Two consecutive negative signs produce a positive sign.
– -3 = +3 = 3
A negative sign adjacent to a positive sign produces a negative sign.
– +3 = -3
+ -3 = -3
Addition
The sum of a negative and a positive can be negative, positive, or zero.
-5 + 3 = -2
3 + -5 = -2
-5 + 9 = 4
9 + -5 = 4
-6 + 6 = 0
6 + -6 = 0
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
—5+3 | |
![]() |
–2 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
3 + ![]() |
3+—5 | |
![]() |
–2 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
–5+9 | |
![]() |
4 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
9 + ![]() |
9+—5 | |
![]() |
4 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
–6 + 6 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
6 + ![]() |
6 + –6 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
Negatives |
Subtraction
The difference between a negative and a positive is a negative.
-5 – 3 = -8
The difference between a positive and a negative can be positive or zero.
3 – -5 = 8
3 – -3 = 0
The difference between a negative and a negative can be negative, positive, or zero.
-5 – -3 = -2
-3 – -5 = 2
-6 – -6 = 0
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
—5-3 | |
![]() |
–8 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
3 – ![]() |
3-—5 | |
![]() |
8 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
3 – ![]() |
3-—3 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—5-—3 | |
![]() |
–2 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—3-—5 | |
![]() |
2 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—6-—6 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
Negatives |
Multiplication
Negative × Positive = Negative
Positive × Negative = Negative
-5 × 3 = -15
5 × -3 = -15
Negative × Negative = Positive
-5 × -3 = 15
-3 × -5 = 15
Negative × Zero = Zero
Zero × Negative = Zero
-6 × 0 = 0
0 × -6 = 0
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
—5*3 | |
![]() |
—15 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
5 × ![]() |
5*—3 | |
![]() |
—15 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—5*—3 | |
![]() |
15 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—3*—5 | |
![]() |
15 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
—6*0 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
0 × ![]() |
0*—6 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
Negatives |
Division
Negative ÷ Positive = Negative
Positive ÷ Negative = Negative
-15 ÷ 3 = -5
15 ÷ -3 = -5
Negative ÷ Negative = Positive
-15 ÷ -3 = 5
-15 ÷ -5 = 3
Zero ÷ Negative = Zero
Negative ÷ Zero = Undefined
0 ÷ -6 = 0
-6 ÷ 0 = Undefined
Input | Display | Comment |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
—15÷3 | |
![]() |
—5 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
15 ÷ ![]() |
15÷—3 | |
![]() |
—5 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—15÷—3 | |
![]() |
5 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() ![]() |
—15÷—5 | |
![]() |
3 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
0 ÷ ![]() |
0÷—6 | |
![]() |
0 | Answer |
![]() |
blinker | clears screen |
![]() |
—6÷0 | |
![]() |
DIVIDE BY 0 Error |
Answer |
Negatives |
Practice – Questions
1. What is -7 + 15?
2. What is 6 + -11?
3. What is -13 – 8?
4. What is -4 – -9?
5. What is -12 × 13?
6. What is -14 × -15?
7. What is -169 ÷ 13?
8. What is -144 ÷ -12?
9. What is -8 + -4 × -12 ÷ -6?
10. What is -8 – -4 × -15 ÷ -6?
Practice – Answers
1. 8
2. -5
3. -21
4. 5
5. -156
6. 210
7. -13
8. 12
9. -16
10. 2