SUBTRACTION OF INTEGERS

(+𝟒) − (−𝟒) = (+𝟖)

minuend subtrahend difference

Example : Study the following examples.

a) (+5) – (+3) = (+5) + (−3) = (+2)

b) (+10) – ( +12) = (+10) + (−12) = (−2)

c) (−14) – ( −11) = (−14) + (+11) = (−3)

d) (−20)– (−25) = (−20) + (+25) = (+5)

e) (+10) – (−4) = (+10) + (+4) = (+14)

f) (−30)– ( +10) = (−30) + (−10) = (−40)

g) (−7 )– (+7) = (−7) + (−7) = (−14)

h) 19 – ( −10) = 19 + (+10) = (+29)

i) 30 – ( +3) = 30 + (−3) = 27

In subrtaction we take the additive inverse of the subtrahend and add this
number to the minuend.

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Example : Find the missing numbers.

a) (+10)− = (+5) Subtrahend = minuend − difference

(+10) − (+5) =
(+10) + (−5) = (+5) = (+5)

b) −(−8) = (+10)
minuend = Subtrahend + difference

(+10) + (−8) = (+2) = (+2)

Example : Simplify (+6) + (+12) − (+7)

Solution : (+6) + (+12) + (−7) =

(+18) + (−7) =

(+11)

Example : Simplify (−5) − (+12) + (+11) − (+13)

Solution : (−5) + (−12) + (+11) + (−13) =

(−17) + (−2) =

(−19)

Example : Simplify [(−7) + (+10)] − [(+9) − (+11)]

Solution : (+3) − [(+9) + (−11)] =

(+3) − (−2) =

(+3) + (+2) =

(+5)

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EXERCISES
1) Do the following operations.

a) (−32) − (+14) =

b) (+27)(−18) =

c) (−10) − (−17) =

d) (+5) + (−8) − (+12) =

e) (−20) − (−12) − (+3) =

f) (+3) + (−5) − (−15) − (+1) =

2) Find the missing numbers.

a) (−14)− = (+8)

b) −(+15) = (−14)

c) (+10)− = (−16)

d) −(−13) = (+18)

3) Simplify [(−25) − (+14)] − [(−8) + (+9)]

4) In a certain subtraction operation, the subtrahend is (−10) and the difference is (+9).
Find the minuend.

5) In a certain subtraction operation, the minuend is (+11) and the difference is (−7).
Find the subtrahend .

6) Find the sum of the integers that lie between − 3 and 4.