Subtracting 9 from -4

To subtract 9 from -4, we need to understand how to perform subtraction with negative numbers.

Understanding Negative Numbers

Negative numbers are numbers less than zero. They are represented with a "-" sign in front of the number. For example, -4 is a negative number.

Subtraction of Negative Numbers

When subtracting negative numbers, we can think of it as adding the opposite. In other words, subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its positive counterpart.

Steps to Subtract 9 from -4

1. Change the subtraction into addition by taking the opposite of 9. The opposite of 9 is -9.
2. Rewrite the problem as -4 + (-9).

Adding Negative Numbers

To add negative numbers, we need to remember the rule: "Two negatives make a positive." When adding negative numbers, we add their absolute values and keep the negative sign.

Adding -4 and -9

When adding -4 and -9, we add their absolute values, which are 4 and 9, respectively. The sum of 4 and 9 is 13. Since both numbers are negative, the result is also negative.

Final Result

Therefore, the result of subtracting 9 from -4 is -13.

Summary

To subtract a number from a negative number, we can think of it as adding the opposite. In this case, subtracting 9 from -4 is the same as adding -9 to -4. By adding the absolute values of -4 and -9, we get 13, and since both numbers are negative, the final result is -13.