Why does a negative and a negative make a positive?

Question

Example: 2 – (-3) = 5

I learned HOW to solve this type of equation in school…but not the WHY.

In: Mathematics

Answer 1

The same reason why adding a positive makes a positive. You are SUBTRACTING the NEGATIVE. Which means you are ADDING the POSITIVE. Hope that helps. It really helped me when I learned this stuff.