Let's talk about subtracting two integers, one begin positive and one being negative. This is certainly a double-edged sword.
Let's start off with a pretty easy one. If you can start to see these as integers (which they are), it's going to make everything else much easier.
Here we have 10 - 3 = x. If you have 10, and you take away (or subtract) 3 of them, you have 7 left.
Now, you may think that 3 - 10 = x would just result in the same thing. But not so. If we only have 3 blocks, we can only take 3 of them away...without going into the negative zone.
So you see, the problem is dealing with the same digits. The exact same digits. The fact is, though, that you just don't have 10 to give. It's just that the 10 is now a negative 10, a.k.a. -10. 3 + -10, or 3 - 10, equals -7.
If you're not getting it still, hang in there. With some practice, it's going to come around. We'll work on this over the next week or so.
Have a good night, and I will talk to you soon.
Let's start off with a pretty easy one. If you can start to see these as integers (which they are), it's going to make everything else much easier.
Here we have 10 - 3 = x. If you have 10, and you take away (or subtract) 3 of them, you have 7 left.
Now, you may think that 3 - 10 = x would just result in the same thing. But not so. If we only have 3 blocks, we can only take 3 of them away...without going into the negative zone.
So you see, the problem is dealing with the same digits. The exact same digits. The fact is, though, that you just don't have 10 to give. It's just that the 10 is now a negative 10, a.k.a. -10. 3 + -10, or 3 - 10, equals -7.
If you're not getting it still, hang in there. With some practice, it's going to come around. We'll work on this over the next week or so.
Have a good night, and I will talk to you soon.
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