What does minus a negative really mean?
Diego saw 5 - (-3) and wrote 2, as if the problem were 5 - 3. But the two minus signs are doing different jobs.
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3 lessons for “Subtracting signed numbers”
Why can't I just add 7 and 5?
Maya added -7 and 5 and got 12. She counted the sizes of both numbers but forgot that they move in opposite directions.
Try this lessonWhat do two negatives in a row do?
Priya multiplied -3 by -4 and wrote -12. She remembered that negatives matter, but she got the rule backwards.
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Where did the negative sign go?
A negative sign belongs to the number next to it. Keeping that number together can prevent an almost-correct equation from turning into the wrong answer.
Try this lessonWhy write 7/4 as 1 and 3/4?
Both forms describe exactly the same amount. One is better for seeing how much it is, and the other is better for calculating with it.
Try this lessonWhy can't I subtract straight across?
Leo worked out 3/4 - 1/3 by subtracting the tops and adding the bottoms, writing 2/7. The pieces were different sizes.
Try this lessonHow does subtracting the equations remove a variable?
When both equations share a term like 2y, that term becomes your exit: subtract the equations and it disappears.
Try this lessonHow many solutions does x^2 - 5x + 3 = 0 have?
Before solving a quadratic, the discriminant can tell you how many real answers it will have. One number, three cases.
Try this lessonWhat does percent of really mean?
Ivan found 15% of 80 by computing 1.5 * 80 and wrote 120. He moved the decimal the wrong way when converting 15%.
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