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Example

Simplifying 13813 - 8 and 179-17 - 9 Using the Subtraction Property

Apply the subtraction property to verify that subtracting a number and adding its opposite produce the same result:

  • 138=513 - 8 = 5 and 13+(8)=513 + (-8) = 5, confirming that 138=13+(8)13 - 8 = 13 + (-8).
  • 179=26-17 - 9 = -26 and 17+(9)=26-17 + (-9) = -26, confirming that 179=17+(9)-17 - 9 = -17 + (-9).

Replacing the subtraction with the addition of the opposite yields the same answer, demonstrating the property ab=a+(b)a - b = a + (-b) for both positive and negative starting values.

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Updated 2026-06-30

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