Math Question

[JanetRose]

What is the difference beween
- 376
and
895?

Thanks.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Whatever 376 plus 895 is (I don't have a calculator or math brain with me now!). It helps to think of a number line when doing different signs. This would be the actual difference.

If it was written as -376 - 895, then it would be done as it is below.

When we were being taught different signs with subtraction, we learned the phrase 'keep, change, change'. If your original problem was -376 - 895, it would change to -376 + -895.

 

[shirleyb]

-1271

 

[Makdyn]

-1271

 

[thinkerbell]

Wouldn't it be a positive 1271? The difference between two numbers is the larger number - the smaller number which makes the problem 895-(-376). This would then change to 895+376 because two negatives make a positive. Also, if you were to look at it on a number line, it is like how many jumps it would take you to get from -376 to 895. Maybe I am trying to make this too simple.

 

[hiwaygal]

Wouldn't it be a positive 1271? The difference between two numbers is the larger number - the smaller number which makes the problem 895-(-376). This would then change to 895+376 because two negatives make a positive. Also, if you were to look at it on a number line, it is like how many jumps it would take you to get from -376 to 895. Maybe I am trying to make this too simple.

It depends on how the equation is actually written.

If the equation is: -376-895 = ?, then the answer (1271) is negative.

If the equation is 895 - (-376) = ?, then the answer (1271) is positive.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It depends...


If your problem is

-376 - (895) (i.e. negative 376 minus 895) Then the answer is -1271

If your problem is

895 -(-376) (i.e. 895 minus negative 376) then the answer is positive 1271.

But since it says what is the difference between the first number (-376) and the second number (895)...I do believe your answer is negative. It isn't the number line as you aren't figuring out how many spaces are between the two numbers...but rather...what is the difference when you subtract them...you are jumping 895 spaces BACK.

So your answer in that case is -1271.

But double check how the problem is worded and/or the equation is set up as that will indeed make a difference.

 

[Kath2003]

If it is:

-376 + 895 = 519
-376 - 895 = -1271

 

[JanetRose]

I made a mistake on my daughter's income tax return. I indicated $-376 as adjusted income when it should have been $895. Now I need to know what the difference is - I'm thinking that it probably is $519. Thanks.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you listed her income is negative..in order to come up to the proper income...then the difference is 1271.


You NEED 895....you HAD -375....


So you must go up (positive) 1271 to reach that....

895 -(-376) = 895+376=1271




So is that what you meant....her income was negative 375 as you listed it but it was really 895?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

sorry about the all caps on some of the words...wasn't yelling at you--just did that for clarity.