An operation is commutative if you can change the order of the numbers involved without changing the result. Addition and multiplication are both commutative. Subtraction is not commutative: 2 - 1 is not equal to 1 - 2. So my question is what’s the difference between 2 - 1 and 1 - 2?
3 answers
2-1=1 and 1-2=-1
2-1 = 1 and 1-2 = -1.
So the difference is 2.
If you asking why it is that way, it just IS. It can be deduced logically from how subtraction is defined.
So the difference is 2.
If you asking why it is that way, it just IS. It can be deduced logically from how subtraction is defined.
There is no difference between 1-2 and 2-1 if you disregard the + or - in the final answer.
Sometimes when I do calculations on the calculator and I forget which number is the larger, I will end up with a negative answer. I just remember that the answer should be positive. Look at the equation and you can see if the answer should be + or -.
Sometimes when I do calculations on the calculator and I forget which number is the larger, I will end up with a negative answer. I just remember that the answer should be positive. Look at the equation and you can see if the answer should be + or -.
1 answer