Let's solve
Question 1 step by step. We are dealing with
addition and subtraction involving negative numbers.
We'll go through each part, applying the rules:
- Subtracting a positive number is like adding a negative.
- Adding a negative number is like subtracting a positive.
- When subtracting two numbers, think of it as moving left on the number line.
---
Question 1: Work out the answers to each of the following
#### (a) $ 2 - 3 $
Think: Start at 2, move 3 to the left → $ 2 - 3 = -1 $
✔ Answer: -1
#### (b) $ 3 - 5 $
Start at 3, move 5 left → $ 3 - 5 = -2 $
✔ Answer: -2
#### (c) $ 4 - 9 $
$ 4 - 9 = -5 $
✔ Answer: -5
#### (d) $ 1 - 5 $
$ 1 - 5 = -4 $
✔ Answer: -4
#### (e) $ 5 - 7 $
$ 5 - 7 = -2 $
✔ Answer: -2
#### (f) $ 6 - 7 $
$ 6 - 7 = -1 $
✔ Answer: -1
#### (g) $ 8 - 11 $
$ 8 - 11 = -3 $
✔ Answer: -3
#### (h) $ 2 - 10 $
$ 2 - 10 = -8 $
✔ Answer: -8
#### (i) $ -2 + 4 $
Start at -2, add 4 → move right 4 → $ -2 + 4 = 2 $
✔ Answer: 2
#### (j) $ -3 + 9 $
$ -3 + 9 = 6 $
✔ Answer: 6
#### (k) $ -7 + 10 $
$ -7 + 10 = 3 $
✔ Answer: 3
#### (l) $ -6 + 1 $
$ -6 + 1 = -5 $
✔ Answer: -5
#### (m) $ -5 + 8 $
$ -5 + 8 = 3 $
✔ Answer: 3
#### (n) $ -9 + 7 $
$ -9 + 7 = -2 $
✔ Answer: -2
#### (o) $ -20 + 11 $
$ -20 + 11 = -9 $
✔ Answer: -9
#### (p) $ -12 + 18 $
$ -12 + 18 = 6 $
✔ Answer: 6
#### (q) $ -3 - 2 $
Subtracting 2 from -3 → $ -3 - 2 = -5 $
✔ Answer: -5
#### (r) $ -4 - 1 $
$ -4 - 1 = -5 $
✔ Answer: -5
#### (s) $ -6 - 3 $
$ -6 - 3 = -9 $
✔ Answer: -9
#### (t) $ -1 - 5 $
$ -1 - 5 = -6 $
✔ Answer: -6
#### (u) $ -7 - 3 $
$ -7 - 3 = -10 $
✔ Answer: -10
#### (v) $ -8 - 5 $
$ -8 - 5 = -13 $
✔ Answer: -13
#### (w) $ -9 - 12 $
$ -9 - 12 = -21 $
✔ Answer: -21
#### (x) $ -15 - 13 $
$ -15 - 13 = -28 $
✔ Answer: -28
---
✔ Final Answers for Question 1:
| Part | Answer |
|------|--------|
| (a) | -1 |
| (b) | -2 |
| (c) | -5 |
| (d) | -4 |
| (e) | -2 |
| (f) | -1 |
| (g) | -3 |
| (h) | -8 |
| (i) | 2 |
| (j) | 6 |
| (k) | 3 |
| (l) | -5 |
| (m) | 3 |
| (n) | -2 |
| (o) | -9 |
| (p) | 6 |
| (q) | -5 |
| (r) | -5 |
| (s) | -9 |
| (t) | -6 |
| (u) | -10 |
| (v) | -13 |
| (w) | -21 |
| (x) | -28 |
---
🔍 Tips for Solving These:
-
Addition: If signs are the same, add and keep sign. If different, subtract smaller from larger and take the sign of the bigger number.
-
Subtraction: Change subtraction to addition of the opposite:
$ a - b = a + (-b) $
For example:
$ 5 - 7 = 5 + (-7) = -2 $
This method helps avoid confusion!
---
Let me know if you'd like help with
Question 2 too!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of adding and subtracting negative numbers worksheet.