document.write( "Question 444601: I am having trouble differentiating between a minus sign and a negative sign placed in front of a number in a written equation. Ex: 4 - 3 [(2 - 8)-(-6 - 8)] Is there a simple rule which I have missed?
\n" ); document.write( "Thank You, Tom \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #306434 by oberobic(2304)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's start with something simple. Subtracting is the same as adding a negative number.
\n" ); document.write( "And subtracting a negative number is the same as adding.
\n" ); document.write( "So,
\n" ); document.write( "4 - 1 = 4 + (-1)
\n" ); document.write( "4 - (-1) = 4 + 1 = 5
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\n" ); document.write( "One thing that is useful to do is to put the operators \"close\" to what they are affecting.
\n" ); document.write( "4 - 1 = 4 -1
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\n" ); document.write( "Or
\n" ); document.write( "4 - 3 [(2 - 8)-(-6 - 8)]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [2 + (-8) -(-6 + (-8))]
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\n" ); document.write( "Start resolving this tangle with the innermost set of parentheses and work your way back out.
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\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [2 + (-8) -(-6 -8))]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [2 + (-8) -(-14)]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [2 + (-8) +14)]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [2 + 6]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [8]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-3) * [8]
\n" ); document.write( "4 + (-24)
\n" ); document.write( "-20
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