Section 1
Subtracting Negative Integers on a Number Line
Property
When subtracting a negative integer on a number line, move right (in the positive direction) by the absolute value of that negative integer: .
In this Grade 6 lesson from Big Ideas Math Advanced 1, Chapter 11, students learn to subtract integers by applying the rule of adding the opposite, converting expressions like −8 − (−13) into −8 + 13. Students practice subtracting positive and negative integers, evaluate multi-term expressions, and apply integer subtraction to real-life problems such as calculating ranges of elevation.
Section 1
Subtracting Negative Integers on a Number Line
When subtracting a negative integer on a number line, move right (in the positive direction) by the absolute value of that negative integer: .
Section 2
Subtraction as Adding the Opposite
Subtraction of integers is the same as adding the additive inverse, so . A number and its opposite have a sum of 0 and are called additive inverses. The opposite of is written as .
Section 3
Applying the Rule for Subtracting Integers
Apply the rule that subtraction of integers is equivalent to adding the opposite: . This allows any integer subtraction problem to be solved using addition rules, including cases with negative integers where .
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Section 1
Subtracting Negative Integers on a Number Line
When subtracting a negative integer on a number line, move right (in the positive direction) by the absolute value of that negative integer: .
Section 2
Subtraction as Adding the Opposite
Subtraction of integers is the same as adding the additive inverse, so . A number and its opposite have a sum of 0 and are called additive inverses. The opposite of is written as .
Section 3
Applying the Rule for Subtracting Integers
Apply the rule that subtraction of integers is equivalent to adding the opposite: . This allows any integer subtraction problem to be solved using addition rules, including cases with negative integers where .
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter