Maths confusion.

Hi! I was doing a past paper (2018, AQA HIGHER) and this ('relatively') easy question came up but I'm still lost. I would've gotten 2-3/4 but I don't understand something. I was taught when you add a positive and a negative number like, 3-(-2), the two minus signs would become positive, but in the question - it was fractions, and one fraction was negative, another was positive so I added them - but in the MS, you were supposed to subtract.

Sorry, if it doesn't make sense. If anyone is willing to explain, I'll send a screenshot of the question. I looked through a walkthrough too, but the person didn't even explain how.

Reply 1

UoL Students

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by lenottye

Hi! I was doing a past paper (2018, AQA HIGHER) and this ('relatively') easy question came up but I'm still lost. I would've gotten 2-3/4 but I don't understand something. I was taught when you add a positive and a negative number like, 3-(-2), the two minus signs would become positive, but in the question - it was fractions, and one fraction was negative, another was positive so I added them - but in the MS, you were supposed to subtract.
Sorry, if it doesn't make sense. If anyone is willing to explain, I'll send a screenshot of the question. I looked through a walkthrough too, but the person didn't even explain how.

Hello,

I cannot promise I can help because it has been a few years since I have done my GCSE and A Levels in Mathematics but if you post a picture of the question and maybe also the mark scheme I would be more than happy to take a look. If I can't help I am sure someone on here will.

But in general, what you have said is right. Two negatives make a positive and a negative and a positive becomes a negative. In other words, two like signs become a positive and two unlike signs become a negative.

Charlie
Law LLB Student

Reply 2

lenottye

Hiya!

Thank you so much for responding,
I decided to go ask my tutor and I had made the silliest mistake ever. I read the '-' as a +!! I'm so sorry for wasting your time, I always make the most silly mistakes in maths.

Have a wonderful evening and happy new year!! :biggrin:

Reply 3

UoL Students

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Original post

by lenottye

Hiya!
Thank you so much for responding,
I decided to go ask my tutor and I had made the silliest mistake ever. I read the '-' as a +!! I'm so sorry for wasting your time, I always make the most silly mistakes in maths.
Have a wonderful evening and happy new year!! :biggrin:

That's not a problem, we are all guilty of making silly mistakes, myself included! Just remember not to do it in exams if you can help it, I know someone who did A Level Maths who forgot to add a C to an integral which cost him a mark!

Have a happy new year yourself and if you ever need support again there will be someone on here who is happy to help!

Charlie
Law LLB Student

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