Thread: Struggling with maths need a little help

I am strugling with some basic maths and I wonderd if someone would explain this to me, I think I am looking at it all wrong.

4-(-3)=7 correct?

Well I dont understand this.

If I had 4 marbles and used the (-3) on them I would be left with 1 marble right?

Sorry guys if this seems realy dumb but I find it realy hard to get my brain around maths

$ilver

Originally Posted by $ilver

I am strugling with some basic maths and I wonderd if someone would explain this to me, I think I am looking at it all wrong.

4-(-3)=7 correct?

Yes, this is correct. Mathematically, we can apply this.

Originally Posted by $ilver

Well I dont understand this.

If I had 4 marbles and used the (-3) on them I would be left with 1 marble right?

Sorry guys if this seems realy dumb but I find it realy hard to get my brain around maths

$ilver

For the marble question, you cannot have marbles so that question (I believe) is asking what whould happen if there were marbles and you take away.



For objects, you cannot have a number less than so when given, you assume that they are saying, what happens when this quantity is subtracted.

For the marble question, you cannot have -3 marbles so that question (I believe) is asking what whould happen if there were 4 marbles and you take 3 away.



For objects, you cannot have a number less than 0 so when given, you assume that they are saying, what happens when this quantity is subtracted.

So basicaly then I am thinking of numbers as objects? Like when I count on my fingers each finger is an object of the number it represents?

Why isnt 4-(-3)=7 written 4+3=7 ? and what happens to the - in (-3)? it isnt reflected in the answer that I can see.

OMG im realy confused now!!

Originally Posted by $ilver

So basicaly then I am thinking of numbers as objects? Like when I count on my fingers each finger is an object of the number it represents?

Why isnt 4-(-3)=7 written 4+3=7 ? and what happens to the - in (-3)? it isnt reflected in the answer that I can see.

OMG im realy confused now!!

When you have two signs together, like above then there is a change of sign.






Like signs make positive and different signs make negative.

Originally Posted by $ilver

So basicaly then I am thinking of numbers as objects? Like when I count on my fingers each finger is an object of the number it represents?

Why isnt 4-(-3)=7 written 4+3=7 ? and what happens to the - in (-3)? it isnt reflected in the answer that I can see.

OMG im realy confused now!!

I can't think of numbers as objects. They're just numbers, I guess.

Whenever you multiply a negative number by a negative number, the answer is positive. This is essentially what you are doing here. You are multiplying the number -3 by -1. Although the 1 isn't written, it is assumed. So yes, it could be written as 4 + 3 = 7. It's the same thing. But then that would be too easy. LOL

Ok gotcha! I didnt understand how the signs worked, that helps a lot guys.

Thanks

PS would you beleive im 39?!! I wanted to do a science course on open university but I have discoverd my maths is SO BAD in need to learn it before I even start the course!!

Originally Posted by Air

When you have two signs together, like above then there is a change of sign.






Like signs make positive and different signs make negative.

Ummm where do the multiply signs fit into all this?

Originally Posted by $ilver

Ummm where do the multiply signs fit into all this?

I'm not sure what you mean by multiplication sign.

The rules that I have given are arithmetic addition and subtraction rule.

Have a read on this websites, it explains rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division: Link (Arithmetic Rules)

Just what I needed

Originally Posted by $ilver

I am strugling with some basic maths and I wonderd if someone would explain this to me, I think I am looking at it all wrong.

4-(-3)=7 correct?

Well I dont understand this.

If I had 4 marbles and used the (-3) on them I would be left with 1 marble right?

Sorry guys if this seems realy dumb but I find it realy hard to get my brain around maths

$ilver

u have mentioned in a bracket know that is 4-(-3) that means multiplication so 4 (- * - in the bracket )3 is equal as 4 + 3 = 7
when u just say 4-3 means that is 1 only
In multiplication when the signs r same + symbol
when opposite sign means - symbol
now u may understood i think