b-(-65)=15

Question

What is the answer?

Answer 1

b-(-65)=15

Hi Kellie. That double minus sign can be confusing. Remember that one way of thinking of negatives is as “the opposite of.” For example, -65 is the opposite of 65. And –(-65) is the opposite of the opposite of 65, or just plain 65.

b-(-65)=15

b+65=15

Subtract 65 from both sides. (What you do to one side of the equation, you must do to the other.)

b+65-65=15-65

b=-50

Answer 2

b-(-65)=15

To begin, remember that the minus signs will cancel each other out making the equation

b+65=15

Now simplify:

65-65=0

15-65=-50

giving us the answer:

b= -50