Negative numbers in simple arithmetic
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Issue Date
2010
Authors
Das, Runa
LeFevre, Jo-Anne
Penner-Wilger, Marcie
License
Subject
Numbers, Negative
Arithmetic
Cognition
Arithmetic
Cognition
Abstract
Are negative numbers processed differently than positive numbers in arithmetic problems?
In two experiments, adults (N = 66) solved standard addition and subtraction problems such
as 3 + 4 and 7 – 4 and recasted versions that included explicit negative signs, that is, 3 – (-4),
7 + (-4), and (-4) + 7. Solution times on the recasted problems were slower than on standard
problems, but the effect was much larger for addition than subtraction. The negative sign
may prime subtraction in both kinds of recasted problems. Problem size effects were the
same or smaller in recasted as compared to standard problems, suggesting that the recasted
formats did not interfere with mental calculation. These results suggest that the underlying
conceptual structure of the problem (i.e., addition vs. subtraction) is more important for
solution processes than the presence of negative numbers.