How were you taught negative numbers?

I have came across quite a few students who just cannot seem to grasp the basic concepts of arithmetics on negative numbers. For example, $-2-3$ seems to give them a hard time, no matter how I explain it -- $2-3$ is $1$; there are negatives involved; the answer must have a negative; answer is obviously -1.

erm

you realise that - - 2 - 3 = - 1 not 1

It is supposed to be a dash, the silly punctuation that I don't really know how to use but try to anyway.

I have came across quite a few students who just cannot seem to grasp the basic concepts of arithmetics on negative numbers. For example, $-2-3$ seems to give them a hard time, no matter how I explain it -- $2-3$ is $1$; there are negatives involved; the answer must have a negative; answer is obviously -1.

In the end, due to time constraints, I had to give them a set of rules to follow instead (eg. two negatives make a plus). However, just forcing them to learn the rules seems rather .. non-mathematical.

On the other hand, I cannot think of a good intuitive model to teach them. The closest I can think of is the balance on a credit card. This still does not cover the operation of taking away negative numbers. I suppose there is cancelling a transaction, but that forces subtraction to take on multiple roles, since subtraction is intuitively "take out money".

Now, I cannot remember how I learnt this. It might well have been brute-forcing memorisation. I would like to do better.

TL;DR: How did you learn to manipulate negative numbers?

It is supposed to be a dash, the silly punctuation that I don't really know how to use but try to anyway.

I can't remember in the slightest how I was taught it, but an example of their use that springs to mind and that kids might be able to quickly relate to is with equipment in RPG games. For instance something that boosts certain attributes with a penalty for others (+2 Strength, -1 Agility for a set of armour, say).

Good luck

Then, in that case, -2-3 = -5

I can't remember in the slightest how I was taught it, but an example of their use that springs to mind and that kids might be able to quickly relate to is with equipment in RPG games. For instance something that boosts certain attributes with a penalty for others (+2 Strength, -1 Agility for a set of armour, say).

Good luck

Are you Sheldon's nephew?

Simply use a number line. Then they can see the effect of moving leftwards inside the negative half. They must be made to understand what it really means to perform an operation on a number, as far as I can see graphical methods are going to help with that.

Then, in that case, -2-3 = -5

Weaker students routinely have problems with the order of subtraction (and division).

When you say 2 - 3 they see 3 - 2.

When you say 4 / 8 they are likely to offer 2 as the answer.

Their original teachers also did that. And I also tried it. Number lines just seem to confuse them even more. They just don't like to use number lines.

I think OP is trying to use the $ symbol to represent absolute values, so $2-3$ is actually |2-3|=1

And the bit after the dash is supposed to be their logic behind their answer. I didn't articulate properly there. May be that's why I couldn't get them to understand.

How were you using it? There is no simpler way I can think of than using a number line.