Question

Find the difference.

$-20-4$

Short answer

The difference of the numbers is $-24$.

Step-by-step solution

Step-1 – Apply the concept of subtraction

To add two numbers with similar signs, add their absolute values and keep the similar sign with the resulting number.

To add two numbers with opposite signs, subtract the absolute value of smaller number from absolute value of larger number and keep the sign of larger number with the resulting number.

Step-2 – Example for subtraction of numbers

The difference of the numbers $7-3=4$ is positive because the larger number is positive.

And the difference of the numbers $3-7=-4$ is negative because the larger number is negative.

Step-3 – Evaluate the difference

To evaluate the difference $-20-4$, add the opposite of the second number.

To subtract $4$, add its opposite $-4$ to get

$\begin{array}{c}-20-4=-20+\left(-4\right)\\ =-24\end{array}$

Thus, the difference of the numbers is $-24$.