Question

The voltage at terminal A is -8 volts and the voltage at terminal B is 5 volts. What is the voltage difference between the two terminals?

Answer 1

Voltage difference is 13 volts

Explanation:

If voltage A (
`V_A`) is -8 volts, and voltage B (
`V_B`) is 5, the voltage difference is calculated via the formula

`V_B-V_A=5\,volts \,- \,(-8 \,volts)=5\, volts\,+\,8\, volts=13\,volts`

When estimating a difference between quantity A and another quantity B it is custom to perform the difference built as the last quantity mentioned, minus the first one.