Negative 4 minus negative 9
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the result of the mathematical operation of subtracting negative 9 from negative 4. This is a straightforward arithmetic question that involves understanding how to handle the subtraction of a negative number.
Answer
5
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is 5.
Steps to Solve
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Identify the operation
We need to perform the operation of subtracting negative 9 from negative 4. This can be written mathematically as:
$$ -4 - (-9) $$ -
Change subtraction of a negative to addition
When we subtract a negative number, it is the same as adding that number. Therefore, we can change the subtraction to addition:
$$ -4 + 9 $$ -
Perform the addition
Now we perform the addition:
$$ -4 + 9 = 5 $$
The final answer is 5.
More Information
The operation of subtracting a negative number effectively turns into an addition. This can be a source of confusion, but it's a fundamental property of arithmetic that helps simplify calculations.
Tips
Common mistakes include:
- Confusing subtraction of a negative number with just subtraction. Always remember that subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive.
- Mishandling the signs (i.e., not applying the correct operation after changing signs).
