Question

subtract the numbers both ways.
$5 - (-2) = \square$
$-2 - 5 = \square$

Explanation:

Step1: Solve \(5 - (-2)\)

Recall the rule: subtracting a negative is adding the positive. So \(5 - (-2)=5 + 2\).
\(5+2 = 7\)

Step2: Solve \(-2 - 5\)

Recall the rule: adding two negatives (or subtracting a positive from a negative) combines the magnitudes. So \(-2-5=-(2 + 5)\).
\(2 + 5=7\), so \(-(2 + 5)=-7\)

Answer:

For \(5 - (-2)\), the answer is \(7\).
For \(-2 - 5\), the answer is \(-7\).