That fact means that every subtraction problem is actually an addition problem in disguise. For simple integers, when you subtract, you are actually adding negative numbers. Take a moment and think about a subtraction problem and what it really is. When subtracting polynomials with parentheses, many people make a miscalculation. Note that in addition and subtraction of algebraic expressions, we must be especially careful in subtraction. When Subtracting Polynomials, Be Careful of the Negative. You can add or subtract like terms because they have the same properties.
