This story is told in letters, for it is in letters that it happened.

I tell you what I think was happening right before the letters began:

One morning, in the world of Backwards Math (a small land inside a bigger land called MathLand), a little number named -1 + – 30= -31 went to check his mailbox and found a letter. That letter begins our story of letters.

Dear -1 + -30 = -31,

-70 – -40 = ?  needs you to help find her answer!!!

Please help!!!

-40 ÷ -20 = 2

Dear -40 ÷ -20 = 2,

Tell -70 – -40 = ? to shorten -40 to -39, then she’ll get -31,

then subtract -1 and there’s her answer.

-1 + -30 = -31

Dear  -1 + -30 = -31,

-70 – -40 = -30 found her answer, thanks to you.

She doesn’t know how she’ll ever be able to repay you,

-1 + -30 = -31.

-40 ÷ -20 = 2

Dear  -40 ÷ -20 = 2,

No prob. I loved helping her.

-1 + -30 = -31

I think that -1 + -30 = -31 came to the level of being called -31 soon after. (Because of how well he handled the problem.)

And so this story of  letters is told. I hope that soon I’ll be able to tell you another.