Lil Jay!<3: What are some mistakes made when computing with positive and negative numbers?
I’m supposed to tell students the common mistakes made when computing positives or negatives. Can anyone tell me some “bloopers” I should mention?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Hi
Positive + positive = positive
Positive + negative = depends on which number is bigger
*—— same thing for subtractions———*
Positive* positive = positive
Positive*negative = negative
*———-same thing division———-*
bigger positive is bigger
bigger negative is smaller
some think that numbers, positive and negative, can be fractions or decimals. WRONG they must be whole numbers or the opposite of whole numbers.Answer by web
If you have an equation such as 4x-10 = 6, you will have to add 10 to both sides to get 4x = 6 + 10, but you may accidentally do 4x = 6 – 10
When multiplying by negative numbers, i.e. -4*5 = -20, not 20, or -4*-5 = 20, not -20
Same with dividing, adding and subtracting.
BTW these symbols +*/- on Y! Answers are not very clear, so you should read all the symbols clearly so you are not like “WTF! This guy can’t add!!”
Just tell them to read the symbols clearly before they compute. Read slowly, Check, double-check, triple, quadruple, and then compute, and carefully do so, and then come back at the end of the exercise/test and check again.
Best not to check straight away because your brain will still remember what you did and make you skip over errors. Your subconscious also does maths, so it will know the correct answer even if you don’t, so when you come back your subconscious will know the answer and quietly nudge your brain into noticing the error.
That is also good when proof-reading a letter. Write it out, then come back to it a day or several later. You will notice many more errors then you would proof-reading a few minutes later, because you are more awake/less tired and your brain has reset itself, and so is more alert.
Anyway, hope I helped.
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