Question

I don't understand adding or subtracting a number from a positive or negative number. Could you explain?

Answer 1

Give an example of one that confuses u...

Answer 2

Ok. -6-5?

Answer 3

well for example
+ and + = +
- and + = -
+ and - = -
is that what you mean LOLs

Answer 4

Let's go with an analogy, you borrow 6 dollars (or euros, whatever) from a friend, so you owe your friend 6.

Now u borrow another 5, so how much do u owe your freind?

Answer 5

Eleven right?

Answer 6

Since they are both positive....or whichever..?

Answer 7

i think its -1 lmao

Answer 8

Sorry, my computer crashed...

Answer 9

Yes, 11 is right.

Now say it was the other way around, you loaned your friend 11.

Answer 10

These two 11's are different, right?

Answer 11

.....then....I'd owe them nothing? [O____o]

Answer 12

:-) Step at a time....

Answer 13

Yes, because they are owed to different people yes?

Answer 14

That's one way of looking at it, from "outside"

Answer 15

But what about from your point of view...?

Answer 16

yup

Answer 17

we'd be even?

Answer 18

How so?

Answer 19

Since I owed my friend $11 and I gave them $11.

Answer 20

Or...does that not apply?

Answer 21

Well, u didn't give it, u loaned it....

Answer 22

Let's put some signs in to clear things up, let's say u got the loan of 11 and we will say u are now

+11

Answer 23

So your friend would be..?

Answer 24

So now I have $11 right?

Answer 25

Friend...um...give you a name?

Answer 26

:-) If u are +11, what is your friend's position..?

Answer 27

At zero?

Answer 28

She gave u 11, so u are +11.

Then she is...?

Answer 29

Minus 11

Answer 30

Right. And, from "outside" the position is "even"

Answer 31

Ok. So like this? -6k-5k=-11
-1k=-11
divide by -1 both sides
k=11
Am I right?

Answer 32

No.

Answer 33

Let's continue our analogy...

Answer 34

ok

Answer 35

U pay 4 back to your friend out of the 11 u owe.

What's the state of play now, for u, for her, from outside?

Answer 36

Describe in numbers what has happened...

Answer 37

Pay 4? You mean I pay her back four? Out of the total of 11 that I owe her?

Answer 38

Yes.

Answer 39

For her: I owe her $7 Me: I owe her the 7 Outside(?): I owe her 7 dollars/euros more

Answer 40

Ok, that's the state of play, now describe in numbers what has happened to get there...

Answer 41

U had 11....

Answer 42

Then I gave her four.....and I still owe $7? What happens with the 7?

Answer 43

So 11-4 =7, right?

Answer 44

yes

Answer 45

And what are those numbers from your friends point of view?

Answer 46

She gave me 11. I gave her 4. I still owe her 7 more. Am I right NoW?

Answer 47

That's from your point of view....ie 11-4 =7

What are the numbers from your friends point of view?

Answer 48

"I" gave her 11. "She" did not pay me back in full. She gave me 4. But she still owes me 7 more.

Answer 49

-11 + 4 = -7?

Answer 50

I believe so. Because "I" do not have the 7 that "She" still owes.

Answer 51

11-4 =7 Your position
-11 + 4 = -7 Your friend

Add these two equations, can u?

Answer 52

Add them together? 7+-7? That would be zero. We'd be even.

Answer 53

Correct, even though a transaction of 4 took place, the position from outside is still even.

Answer 54

Now we will complicate matters a bit, your friend says she desperately needs to get 5 of her 7 back, can u help.

U haven't got it but u have another friend who agrees to lend u 5 so that u can pay back your friend, so u do that.

What are the positions now?

Answer 55

I give my 1st friend the 5. I only owe her 2 more by this time. My 2nd friend, I now owe HER 5. Either way I owe people 7.

Answer 56

11-4 +5 -5 =7 Your position
-11 + 4 +5 = -2 First friend
-5 Second friend

Agree?

Answer 57

Yes, I agree.

Answer 58

And if u add them up, it will still be zero because all u have done is move money about from one place to another...

Answer 59

Ok, let's go back to what you posted earlier

Ok. So like this? -6k-5k=-11
-1k=-11 divide by -1 both sides
k=11

Can u see your mistake now?

Answer 60

.....no. Not really. My apologies.

Answer 61

What's -6k+5k?

Answer 62

-1k

Answer 63

So then what is -6k -5k?

Answer 64

1k?

Answer 65

Think of the minuses as making loans...

Answer 66

So...-11k?

Answer 67

Right.

Answer 68

Moving on..

-4 - 7 + 6 is?

Answer 69

5!

Answer 70

-4-7 is?

Answer 71

-11

Answer 72

-11 +6 is?

Answer 73

-7

Answer 74

?

Answer 75

?!?!? Sorry! I got distracted! -5 is my final answer.

Answer 76

Right, so -4 - 7 + 6 is -5 (not 5).

Answer 77

-4-7=-11+6=-5

Answer 78

We seem to be OK with the idea that

-4-7 = -11 so now what about

-4 - - 7?

Answer 79

3

Answer 80

YOU JUST GRADUATED FROM THIS ROOM!

Answer 81

Thanks! Um...What does that mean?

Answer 82

He thinks u have got it..:-)

Do u agree?

Answer 83

MIA, I think she might have....

Answer 84

I do. But I'll have to review it often or take notes again. I forgot about this after a whole summer. We just got back to school tuesday. Thank you guys! Um...or girls! xD

Answer 85

ur welcome.

Answer 86

estudier.... so the correct answer to -6k-5k=-11 k=1?