Solve -2-(-5): Step-by-Step Guide to Subtracting Negative Numbers

Question

$-2-(-5)=$

00:04 Let's solve this problem together.

00:08 Remember, a negative times a negative always equals a positive.

00:13 Alright, let's open the parentheses.

00:17 Here, the number is negative.

00:20 On a number line, going left means moving towards the negative side.

00:25 So from zero, we'll make two jumps to the left.

00:30 Now, this number is positive.

00:34 And moving right means we're heading towards the positive side.

00:39 Let's take five jumps to the right.

00:44 And there we have it! That's how we find the solution.

Let's remember the rule:

$-(-x)=+$

We'll write the exercise in the appropriate form:

$-2+(5)=$

We'll locate the number minus 2 on the number line, from there we'll move 5 steps to the right (since 5 is greater than zero):

We can see that we've reached the number 3.

$3$