So we wan't to simplify the eprression 19 - ( - 8) - ( -14). To do that we need to understand what to do with the minus signs. A few rules apply: - (+1)= -1(+1)= -1, - ( -1)= -1(-1)=+1 so minus times plus gives minus and minus times minus gives plus. And a minus sign in front of the bracket is like multiplying the bracket with minus 1. Now to simplify: 19+ (-1)(-1 *8)+(-1)(-1*14)=19+8+14=41.