Question

compute.
-5.642 - 2.57 =
15.23 + (-26.476) =

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate -5.642 - 2.57

When subtracting, we can think of it as adding the opposite. So -5.642 - 2.57=-5.642+( - 2.57). Then we add the absolute - values and keep the negative sign. $|-5.642| = 5.642$ and $|-2.57| = 2.57$, and $5.642+2.57 = 8.212$. So -5.642 - 2.57=-8.212.

Step2: Calculate 15.23+( - 26.476)

When adding a positive and a negative number, we subtract the smaller absolute - value from the larger absolute - value and take the sign of the number with the larger absolute - value. $|15.23| = 15.23$ and $|-26.476| = 26.476$. $26.476−15.23 = 11.246$, and since the negative number has the larger absolute - value, the result is negative. So 15.23+( - 26.476)=-11.246.

Answer:

-8.212
-11.246