Identify Signs: Identify the signs of the numbers involved in the subtraction.We have −7 and −(−3). The first number is negative, and the second number is also negative, but since we are subtracting a negative, it is equivalent to adding its opposite, which is positive.
Rewrite Subtraction: Rewrite the subtraction of a negative number as the addition of a positive number.Subtracting −3 is the same as adding +3. So, the expression −7−(−3) becomes −7+3.
Add Numbers: Add the two numbers.Now we add −7 and +3. Since they have different signs, we subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger absolute value.Calculate: 7−3=4
Determine Sign: Determine the sign of the final answer.Since the original number was −7 and we are adding a smaller positive number to it, the result will still be negative.
Combine for Final Answer: Combine the result from Step 3 with the sign from Step 4 to get the final answer.The final answer is −4.