Section 3: Subtracting Integers

The opposite of a number is written using a negative sign.

The opposite of 3 is written - (3), or -3.

The opposite of -5 is written - (-5), or 5.

Subtraction of integers is accomplished by changing subtraction to addition.

For any two integers, a and b, a - b = a + (-b).

In order to subtract integers, the subtraction should be rewritten as addition.

For example, 2 - (-3) should be written as 2 + 3.

-6 - 4 should be rewritten as -6 + (-4). 

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