GRE Math : How to subtract integers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Arithmetic

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Which store had the greatest increase in thousands of book sales between 2000 and 2010?

Possible Answers:

Stores B and C tie

Store C

Stores A and B tie

Store A

Store B

Correct answer:

Stores A and B tie

Explanation:

Calculate the difference in thousands of sales for each store individually:

Store A: \dpi{100} \small 11-6=5 thousand

Store B: \dpi{100} \small 13-8=5 thousand

Store C: \dpi{100} \small 12-9=3 thousand

Stores A and B both had a 5000-book increase in sales, so A and B tie.

Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Integers

Choose the answer below which best solves the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If it helps, for this problem, think about starting at  and moving twelve places in a negative direction away from zero.  

Also you can think to add 408 with 12 and then multiply that number by a negative one. Starting with the ones place eight plus two gives ten so we keep the zero in the ones place and carry the one to the tens place. Then we add one plus one to give us a two in the tens column. Next we have a four in the hundreds place. This gives us 420. Now we multiply this by negtive one to get our final answer of -420.

Example Question #202 : Arithmetic

Choose the answer which best solves the equation below:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Whenever you subtract a negative number, you flip the sign and add:

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