Can the difference be negative?

We (sometimes) call x−y a difference even though it can be negative. But if you ask for the difference between x and y, it’s not clear which to subtract from which.

Is the difference between two negative numbers sometimes positive?

Difference of two negative numbers may or may not be negative. It depends on the numbers taken as well as on the sequence in which they are taken. Then, a-b=b-a=0, (which is neither negative nor positive..!!!) So difference of two negative numbers may be positive, negative or even zero.

Can you subtract two negative numbers?

If you subtract a negative number, the two negatives combine to make a positive.

What is the absolute difference between two numbers?

Absolute difference is essentially the distance between 2 numbers on a line, calculated using the formula x – y. The absolute difference is the value between two numbers, this is always an absolute value which is a non-negative number.

What is the product of 2 negative integers?

RULE 3: The product of two negative integers is positive.

Why do 2 negatives equal a positive?

Each number has an “additive inverse” associated to it (a sort of “opposite” number), which when added to the original number gives zero. The fact that the product of two negatives is a positive is therefore related to the fact that the inverse of the inverse of a positive number is that positive number back again.

What is the rule of subtracting negative numbers?

Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding a positive number — that is, go up on the number line. This rule works regardless of whether you start with a positive number or a negative number.

What is the difference between difference and subtraction?

Difference is the result of subtracting one number from another. So, difference is what is left of one number when subtracted from another. In a subtraction equation, there are three parts: The minuend (the number being subtracted from)