2 inches = 50 miles 1 inch = 25miles 0.5 inches = 12.5 miles 0.25 inches = 6.25 you need 1.25 so you do 25+ 6.25 and get 31.25. To the nearest mile this would be 31 miles.
It is because you keep the negative exponent which is with the biggest number. So this is how its look like +2 -3, so 3 is bigger then 2 so for that reason you keep the negative sign.