Question

Is the difference between two negative integers always, sometimes, or never positive? Explain.


Is the difference between one negative and one positive integer always, sometimes, or never positive? Explain.

Answer 1

The difference between two negative integers is sometimes positive and sometimes negative.  If we have...

-4 - (-3)

This is equal to...

-4 + 3 = -1

But if we have...

-2 - (-6)

Then this is equal to...

-2 + 6 = 4

The first ended up being positive but the second ended up being negative.  This is because subtracting negative numbers is the same as adding positive numbers.