When subtracting integers with the same signs you simply ignore their signs, find the difference and put in the sign after subtracting. Or you can use integer chips to solve it. After you take away the chips that you needed to take away, what your left with is your answer.
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Examples: /
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(+6) - (+2) = O O O O O O
6 - 2 = 4
(+6) - (+2) = (+4) ^
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(-9) - (-4) = O O O O O O O O O
(-9) - (-4) = O O O O O O O O O
9 - 4 = 5
(-9) - (-4) = (-5)
Subtracting Integers With Different Signs:
When subtracting integers with different signs using integer chips you have to create zero pairs in order take away what is needed. (Zero pairs will not affect the number you are subtracting from). If you are not using integer chips you can take the second number and make it its opposite [example: opposite of (-2) is (+2)]. After doing that, you change the subtraction statement to an addition statement, then you add (see Adding Integers by RJ Tabelina).
Example:
(-5) - (+3) = (-8) ^
O O O O O O O O /
O O O /
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Zero Pair
(+7) - (-9) = + (+9) = (+16)
(+7) - (-9) = + (+9) = (+16)
