Solve -3-(-4): Using Number Line to Subtract Negative Numbers

Question

$-3-(-4)=$

00:05 Let's solve this problem!

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

00:13 Open parentheses. The number here is negative.

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

00:25 So, let's take three steps to the left.

00:29 Now, the number is positive.

00:33 Moving to the right means going to the positive side.

00:37 Let's take four steps to the right.

00:40 And that's how we find the solution to the question!

Let's remember the rule:

$-(-x)=+$

We'll write the exercise in the appropriate form:

$-3+(4)=$

We'll locate the number negative 3 on the number line, from which we'll move 4 steps to the right (since 4 is greater than zero):

We can see that we've reached the number 1.

$1$