Algebra 1

Ch 2.3 – Subtraction of Real Numbers

Objective
 Students will subtract real numbers
Before we begin…
 In elementary school you learned how to subtract
numbers…in those instances the number you were
subtracting was never bigger than the original
number…
 In today’s lesson we will look at subtracting real
numbers…recall that real numbers are positive and
negative numbers…
 Student’s have a hard time with this concept because
they are not used to working with negative
numbers…
 So there is a rule to help you….
 Let’s look at that rule…
Subtracting Real Numbers
 To subtract real numbers you:
2. Add the opposite
3. Then follow the rules for adding
Example:

Algebraically: a – b = a + (-b)
Example: 3 – 5 = 3 + (-5)
-2= -2
 Example #1
 Find the difference -4-3
1. Change the problem to an addition problem by adding the
opposite of 3, which is – 3.
-4 - 3

- 4 + (- 3)
1. Then follow the rules for adding. In this case both signs are
the same so you add and keep the sign…
-4
+ (- 3)
-7
 Example #2
 Find the difference 10 - 11
1. Change the problem to an addition problem by adding the
opposite of 11, which is – 11.
10 - 11

10 + (- 11)
1. Then follow the rules for
adding. In this case the signs 10
are different so you subtract + (- 11)
and keep the sign of the larger
number
-1
 Example #3
 Find the difference 11 - 10
1. Change the problem to an addition problem by adding the
opposite of 10, which is – 10.
11 - 10

11 + (- 10)
1. Then follow the rules for
adding. In this case the signs 11
are different so you subtract + (- 10)
and keep the sign of the larger
number
1
 Example #4
 Find the difference - 3 – (-6)
1. Change the problem to an addition problem by adding the
opposite of (-6), which is 6.
-3 - (-6)

-3 + 6
1. Then follow the rules for
adding. In this case the signs -3
are different so you subtract + 6
and keep the sign of the larger
number
3
Comment
 In the previous example you will notice that
you subtracted a negative
- 3 – (-6)

Double negative gets changed to a positive

 Whenever you see the double negative

sign…a bell should go off in your head that
you need to do something…and that is
change the double negative to a positive
Comment
 It is really important that you are
comfortable working with positive and
negative numbers…
 Later on in this course when we work with
linear and quadratic equations you will find
out that the sign of a number means
something…
 You will make your life easy if you are able to
master these concepts up front….
Comments

 On the next couple of slides are some practice

problems…The answers are on the last slide…
 Do the practice and then check your answers…If you
do not get the same answer you must question what
you did…go back and problem solve to find the
error…
 If you cannot find the error bring your work to me and
I will help…
Your Turn
 Find the difference
2. 4–9 1. -6.6 – (-16.1)
3. 8 – (-5) 2. 6 - |-2|
4. -2 – (-7) 3. 15 - | - 6|
5. 12.5 – 9.8 4. |5| - 7.9
6. 5.4 – (-3.8) 5. 34.1 - |-57.2|
Your Turn Solutions
1. -5 1. 9.5
2. 13 2. 4
3. 5 3. 9
4. 2.7 4. -2.9
5. 9.2 5. -23.1
 Summary
 A key tool in making learning effective is being
able to summarize what you learned in a
lesson in your own words…
 In this lesson we talked about subtracting
real numbers … Therefore, in your own words
summarize this lesson…be sure to include key
concepts that the lesson covered as well as
any points that are still not clear to you…
 I will give you credit for doing this lesson…
please see the next slide…
 Credit
 I will add 25 points as an assignment grade for you working on
this lesson…
 To receive the full 25 points you must do the following:
 Have your name, date and period as well a lesson number
as a heading.
 Do each of the your turn problems showing all work
 Have a 1 paragraph summary of the lesson in your own
words
 Please be advised – I will not give any credit for work submitted:
 Without a complete heading
 Without showing work for the your turn problems
 Without a summary in your own words…