When it comes to advanced numbers and math concepts, most are covered with a basic understanding of algebra. However, when it comes to the SAT math section, it is always a good idea to review and practice, so we will give some tips and techniques to help deal with negative numbers on the math portion of the SAT.
Negatives
Negative numbers are the ones to the left of the zero. This is basic information, but again, reviewing is good when it comes to SAT math questions.
Occasionally, a number in a math problem will have two signs. The basic rule is "one of each is minus and two of the same is positive." So, if a number is -(-1) you must "clean it up" to be 1 before doing any further arithmetic. On the other hand, a + (-3) would become a minus three. After simplifying the numbers, simply add or subtract as needed to get the answer.
When adding or subtracting negatives:
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Look at the signs to determine whether to add or subtract.
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Simplify the number then add or subtract as needed.
Additionally, two negatives that are multiplied or divided together will become a positive while one of each sign will result in a negative number. If all else fails, being able to use a calculator may slow a person down slightly, but it can help get through simple math quicker and more accurately for some people.
TIP: The calculator is not a magic tool. It will only supply the answer to the question it is given. For example, if a parentheses is not used, the answer will come out wrong because the calculator does not know it is dealing with two negatives that must be turned to a positive.
Another thing to remember about negative numbers is that they are left of the zero, so small numbers are bigger because they are nearer to zero. When comparing negative numbers, change both signs to positive and look for the opposite of what the questions wants. After that, it is simply a matter of going from place value to place value to compare the numbers.
Number lines on the SAT math section are typically drawn to scale. This means the lines are just like they appear. So, if they are evenly spaced they will appear evenly spaced. For problems that ask about parts, it is simply a matter of adding the number of spaced (not lines) to find the number of parts of the number.
