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Subtracting Integers with the Same Sign
When both the starting number and the number being subtracted share the same sign — both positive or both negative — the "take away" model of subtraction applies directly. Using counters, you begin with counters of a single color (blue for positives, red for negatives) and simply remove the required number of counters. Because all counters are the same color, no neutral pairs are needed.
- Positive from positive: Start with positive counters and remove some. For example, $5 - 3{5}{3}{2} positives. So $5 - 3 = 2.
- Negative from negative: Start with negative counters and remove some. For example, : start with red counters, take away , leaving negatives. So .
The two cases mirror each other: subtracting positives from positives yields positives, while subtracting negatives from negatives yields negatives. In both situations, only one color of counter is involved, making the take-away interpretation straightforward.
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