Question

Find the difference. $$ 24-39 $$

Short answer

The difference between 24 and 39 is -15.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the Numbers

The numbers in the problem are 24 and 39. We are asked to subtract 39 from 24.

Perform the Subtraction

Subtract 39 from 24 yields \( 24 - 39 = -15 \)

Key concepts

Subtraction

Imagine you're at a starting line marked zero, and subtraction is like taking steps backwards. When you subtract a smaller number from a larger one, you move backwards into positive territory, such as taking 5 steps back from 10. But what if you start at 24 and need to take 39 steps back? You'll pass zero and continue into the negative number zone. In the exercise 24 - 39, you actually go 15 steps past zero, landing at -15. Think of subtraction as the operation that measures the distance between numbers on a number line.

Negative Integers

Negative integers are the numbers below zero. They're usually represented with a minus (-) sign in front. It might be a bit confusing, but in the context of subtracting a negative number, like subtracting negative 39 from 24, it's like you have a double negative which turns into a positive! Imagine owing somebody \(39, but then you're forgiven that debt - it's like you've just gained \)39, right? Although this specifically didn't occur in our exercise, knowing this concept helps in understanding the relationship between positive and negative numbers in subtraction.

Basic Algebra

When we're working with basic algebra, subtraction comes up a lot, often in solving for unknowns. For example, if you have an equation like x - 39 = 24, subtracting 39 from both sides to solve for x is just one example of how subtraction is used in algebra. In our exercise, while we aren't solving for an unknown, we're performing an algebraic operation by subtracting integers. Understanding that subtracting a larger number from a smaller one results in a negative helps build a strong foundation for more complex algebra.