Subtraction of positive and negative integers | Maths

Starter quiz

Complete the statement. The ______ value of a number is its distance away from zero.
- 'absolute' ✓
Which integer does this set of counters represent?
- 11
- 3 ✓
- -3
- -11
Work out: 9 + (-7) = ______
- '2' ✓
Work out (-5) + (-3)
- (-8) ✓
- (-2)
- 2
- 8
Starting with the calculation with the lowest answer, sort these calculations in order of size from lowest answer to highest answer.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  (-3) + (-4)
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  (-2) + (-1)
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  5 + (-5)
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  4 + (-2)
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  (-3) + 7
Work out: 10 + (-12) + 7 + (-6) = ______
- '(-1)' ✓

Complete the statement. The additive inverse of a number is a number that, when added to the original number, gives the sum of ______.
- '0' ✓
Match together each of these subtractions with its equivalent addition.
- 6 - 4
  
  ⇔
  
  6 + (-4) ✓
- 4 - 6
  
  ⇔
  
  4 + (-6) ✓
- 6 - (-4)
  
  ⇔
  
  6 + 4 ✓
- (-4) - 6
  
  ⇔
  
  (-4) + (-6) ✓
Match each calculation to its answer.
- 6 - 4
  
  ⇔
  
  2 ✓
- 4 - 6
  
  ⇔
  
  (-2) ✓
- 6 - (-4)
  
  ⇔
  
  10 ✓
- (-4) - 6
  
  ⇔
  
  (-10) ✓
Work out (-5) - (-8)
- -13
- -3
- 3 ✓
- 13
Work out: (-1) + 2 - (-3) - 4 + (-5) = ______
- '(-5)' ✓
Complete the statement. The missing integer is ______
- '(-4)' ✓

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Minus and a minus make a plus, 2 negatives make a positive, double negative makes a positive, etc.

The use of additive inverses should avoid this common misconception. Be aware that pupils maybe already be familiar with this statement.

Additive inverse - The additive inverse of a number is a number that, when added to the original number, gives the sum of 0.
Absolute value - The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero. E.g. 5 and (−5) are both 5 away from zero and so both have an absolute value of 5.