Grade 6 Integers: Subtracting Integers

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   7 − (−3) = ?

   1. Subtracting is adding the opposite: 7 − (−3) = 7 + 3.
   2. Both numbers have the same sign: add 7 + 3 = 10 and keep the sign.
   3. 7 − (−3) = 10

   Answer: 10

2. Example 2

   (−10) − 3 = ?

   1. Subtracting is adding the opposite: (−10) − 3 = (−10) + (−3).
   2. Both numbers have the same sign: add 10 + 3 = 13 and keep the sign.
   3. (−10) − 3 = −13

   Answer: −13

3. Example 3

   (−2) − (−11) = ?

   1. Subtracting is adding the opposite: (−2) − (−11) = (−2) + 11.
   2. The signs are different: subtract 11 − 2 = 9 and keep the sign of 11, the number farther from zero.
   3. (−2) − (−11) = 9

   Answer: 9