Understanding Subtraction of Negative Numbers

The video tutorial explains why subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding a positive number. It uses a chip model to represent positive and negative numbers, where yellow chips represent positive numbers and red chips represent negative numbers. The example of -1 minus -4 is solved by adding zero pairs to facilitate the removal of red chips, ultimately showing that the operation is equivalent to adding positive numbers. The tutorial concludes by simplifying the chips to demonstrate the final positive result.

What does a yellow chip represent in the context of this lesson?

• Zero

• Positive four

• Negative one

• Positive one

Why do we add zero pairs when subtracting -4 from -1?

• To have enough red chips to remove

• To change the color of the chips

• To make the equation more complex

• To increase the number of red chips

What is the result of removing four red chips in the example?

• Adding one yellow chip

• Removing four yellow chips

• Adding four yellow chips

• Adding four red chips

What is the final result of the operation -1 minus -4?

• Positive three

• Negative three

• Zero

• Positive four

How does the example demonstrate that subtracting a negative is equivalent to adding a positive?

• By showing that red chips are added

• By showing that yellow chips are removed

• By showing that yellow chips are added

• By showing that the chips remain unchanged