Working with Negative Numbers

Adding and subtracting negative numbers becomes straightforward when you think of it as movement on a number line. When you subtract negative numbers, you're moving further down the scale into more negative territory - it's like going backwards from where you already are.

The key to mastering negative numbers lies in understanding sign combinations. These simple rules will save you loads of time: ++ makes +, +- makes -, -+ makes -, and -- makes +. Think of it like this - when two signs are the same, you get positive; when they're different, you get negative.

Powers of negative numbers follow a clear pattern that's worth memorising. When you square a negative number, you always get a positive result (because you're multiplying two negatives together). However, when you cube a negative number, you get a negative result (because you're multiplying three negatives together).

Quick Tip: Remember that two negatives make a positive, but three negatives stay negative - it's all about whether you have an even or odd number of negative signs!