I know the rules of adding and subtracting intergers, but what if there is negative sign in beginning e.g. -(-12)+ (-18)-6+5

Question

 I just want to know to rules in solving this type of problem

Answer 1

 Think of negative sign as switch, whenever applies , changes the sign of the number: i.e.

 

    - ( +5) = -5,  -( -5) = +5

 

    Addition of negative numbers are equivalent of Subtraction

 

     8 + ( -5) = 8 -3 = 5

    Subtraction of negative numbers are addition:

      

     8 - ( -5 ) = 8 +5 = 13

Answer 2

In the context of that equation, the negative sign is actually shorthand for -1 * (-12)

 

So we can rewrite this as:

12 + (-18)- 6+5

Answer 3

Subtracting a negative number is just like adding a positive number. That's what it means to say two negatives make a positive. If you add a negative number though, it's like subtracting a positive number. One negative and one positive means negative. So

 

-(-12) + (-18) - 6 +5 can be rewritten as 12 - 18 -6 +5.