Question

How do you simplify - -8+-8-16 ?

Answer 1

Hint: From the question given, we have been asked to simplify \[- -8+-8-16\] . We can simplify the given question by using the basic properties of addition and subtraction. By using the basic fundamental properties of addition and subtraction we can simplify the given question.

Complete step-by-step solution:
From the question, we have been given that \[- -8+-8-16\]
It is generally better not to have two signs right next to each other. Brackets can be used to understand the given question correctly and it will be easier to simplify the given question if we use the brackets.
As we have been discussed in the above lines, after applying the brackets for the given question, we can write the given question as \[-\left( -8 \right)+\left( -8 \right)-16\]
Now, it will be easier to simplify the question.
We know that negative or negative will give positive signs.
By using this property, we get the equation as \[8+\left( -8 \right)-16\]
Now, we know that the same number of positive signs and negative signs will get cancelled.
In the above expression the number \[8\] has a positive sign and negative sign. So, both of them will get cancelled.
After cancellation, we get \[8+\left( -8 \right)-16=-16\]
Therefore \[-16\] is the simplified answer for the given question.

Note: We should be very careful while simplifying the equation because this problem contains a lot of sign changes. A single sign change can turn the whole problem. So, we should be very careful while doing the simplification for this question. We should have some basic knowledge about addition and subtraction. At once looking at the question it confuses us a lot but just waiting for a sec and thinking carefully we can solve it easily. Similarly we can solve \[- -4+-6-12=4-6-12=4-16=-12\].