Question

when we are subtracting negative number from a positive number (eg 5-16) can we first subtract it as 16-5 and then add a - sign? it works in a lot of examples, but I just wanted to confirm that. ​

Answer 1

Answer:

Subtracting a number is the same as adding its opposite. So, subtracting a positive number is like adding a negative; you move to the left on the number line. Subtracting a negative number is like adding a positive; you move to the right on the number line.

Answer 2

Answer:

In both examples, we change subtraction to addition and changed the sign of the second number to the opposite sign.