SOLUTION: How do I work this problem? -7-20-(-14)? I have done this: -7-20-(-14) = -7+20+14 = 14 +20=34 34-7=27 I get the same answer every time, but the book says the answer is -13

Click here to see ALL problems on Number-Line

Question 973719: How do I work this problem? -7-20-(-14)? I have done this:
-7-20-(-14)
= -7+20+14
= 14 +20=34
34-7=27 I get the same answer every time, but the book says the answer is -13 and I don't know why. How is it worked out? What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help. The book says to subtract change the minus sign to a plus sign and that two minus signs next to each other equal a positive. I think I did that.
Found 2 solutions by Boreal, MathLover1:
Answer by Boreal(15235) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
-7-20-(-14)
-27 is the first two terms. -7 minus 20 is minus 27.
-27 -( -14) is now adding (two minus signs). -27+14= - 13
Two minus signs make a plus. I agree with that.
Subtraction is a minus sign. The last two decades, people have been adding a negative, which has confused a lot of people. You can't change a minus sign to a plus sign without multiplying by minus 1. When there is a minus sign, leave it and subtract. When you have two minus signs together, THEN you add.

Answer by MathLover1(20850) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

= => here you made mistake...you have which means you adding two negative numbers, so recall the rule that says if you adding two negative numbers, you add their absolute value and give the sum negative sign; so,, then you have
=
=