Printable math worksheet for practicing subtraction of positive and negative numbers.

Here are the solutions to the subtraction problems on the worksheet. I have calculated each one step-by-step.

1) $-5 - (-10) = 5$
*(Subtracting a negative is like adding: $-5 + 10 = 5$)*

2) $2 - (-13) = 15$
*(Change to addition: $2 + 13 = 15$)*

3) $-9 - 8 = -17$
*(Both are negative effectively: $-9 - 8 = -17$)*

4) $-3 - (-2) = -1$
*(Change to addition: $-3 + 2 = -1$)*

5) $-3 - (-12) = 9$
*(Change to addition: $-3 + 12 = 9$)*

6) $-8 - (-2) = -6$
*(Change to addition: $-8 + 2 = -6$)*

7) $-5 - 8 = -13$
*(Moving further left on the number line: $-13$)*

8) $-2 - (-12) = 10$
*(Change to addition: $-2 + 12 = 10$)*

9) $-11 - 11 = -22$
*(Adding two negatives: $-22$)*

10) $-2 - 15 = -17$
*(Start at -2, go down 15 more: $-17$)*

11) $-9 - 14 = -23$
*(Start at -9, go down 14 more: $-23$)*

12) $13 - (-9) = 22$
*(Change to addition: $13 + 9 = 22$)*

13) $-1 - (-11) = 10$
*(Change to addition: $-1 + 11 = 10$)*

14) $-13 - 4 = -17$
*(Start at -13, go down 4 more: $-17$)*

15) $6 - (-5) = 11$
*(Change to addition: $6 + 5 = 11$)*

16) $-15 - (-12) = -3$
*(Change to addition: $-15 + 12 = -3$)*

17) $-2 - (-4) = 2$
*(Change to addition: $-2 + 4 = 2$)*

18) $6 - (-11) = 17$
*(Change to addition: $6 + 11 = 17$)*

19) $-15 - (-12) = -3$
*(Change to addition: $-15 + 12 = -3$)*

20) $12 - (-2) = 14$
*(Change to addition: $12 + 2 = 14$)*

21) $-11 - 4 = -15$
*(Start at -11, go down 4 more: $-15$)*

22) $13 - (-5) = 18$
*(Change to addition: $13 + 5 = 18$)*

23) $-12 - 9 = -21$
*(Start at -12, go down 9 more: $-21$)*

24) $-4 - (-2) = -2$
*(Change to addition: $-4 + 2 = -2$)*

25) $-12 - (-2) = -10$
*(Change to addition: $-12 + 2 = -10$)*

26) $15 - (-4) = 19$
*(Change to addition: $15 + 4 = 19$)*

27) $-1 - (-5) = 4$
*(Change to addition: $-1 + 5 = 4$)*

28) $15 - (-4) = 19$
*(Change to addition: $15 + 4 = 19$)*

29) $10 - (-8) = 18$
*(Change to addition: $10 + 8 = 18$)*

30) $1 - (-5) = 6$
*(Change to addition: $1 + 5 = 6$)*

31) $-2 - (-12) = 10$
*(Change to addition: $-2 + 12 = 10$)*

32) $1 - (-12) = 13$
*(Change to addition: $1 + 12 = 13$)*

33) $-1 - (-5) = 4$
*(Change to addition: $-1 + 5 = 4$)*

34) $8 - (-10) = 18$
*(Change to addition: $8 + 10 = 18$)*

35) $-1 - 4 = -5$
*(Start at -1, go down 4 more: $-5$)*

36) $-8 - 5 = -13$
*(Start at -8, go down 5 more: $-13$)*

37) $-11 - (-13) = 2$
*(Change to addition: $-11 + 13 = 2$)*

38) $-11 - 12 = -23$
*(Start at -11, go down 12 more: $-23$)*

39) $-2 - (-8) = 6$
*(Change to addition: $-2 + 8 = 6$)*

40) $-7 - 7 = -14$
*(Start at -7, go down 7 more: $-14$)*

41) $2 - (-10) = 12$
*(Change to addition: $2 + 10 = 12$)*

42) $4 - (-3) = 7$
*(Change to addition: $4 + 3 = 7$)*

43) $-5 - (-12) = 7$
*(Change to addition: $-5 + 12 = 7$)*

44) $-14 - 12 = -26$
*(Start at -14, go down 12 more: $-26$)*

45) $-10 - 3 = -13$
*(Start at -10, go down 3 more: $-13$)*

Final Answer:
1) 5
2) 15
3) -17
4) -1
5) 9
6) -6
7) -13
8) 10
9) -22
10) -17
11) -23
12) 22
13) 10
14) -17
15) 11
16) -3
17) 2
18) 17
19) -3
20) 14
21) -15
22) 18
23) -21
24) -2
25) -10
26) 19
27) 4
28) 19
29) 18
30) 6
31) 10
32) 13
33) 4
34) 18
35) -5
36) -13
37) 2
38) -23
39) 6
40) -14
41) 12
42) 7
43) 7
44) -26
45) -13