This is not a problem that I need help with. I rambled on and on for 5 minutes with teacher, eventually giving in and pretending that I understood..

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/pugfug90/CEPE.gif

Umm..
Perhaps I’m having more of a hard time than necessary because I keep thinking magnets when I see this diagram..

Basically, the diagram is representing a "situation" "as is".. When you manipulate the lower case +"q" to go towards +Q, PE increases, but PE decreases.. What? Or when you move +q away from Q-, PE increases but potential energy decreases? Too confused..
@LeAnne
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I would think that pushing two opposing forces would require more potential energy? Well, at least more physical energy if I pretended it was magnets..
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"If it will require energy, than the potential energy of the charges is small, if it uses it’s own energy to move – obviously, the potential energy was greater."
Positive to positive requires energy, therefore, according to you, small potential energy, while positive to negative, natural attraction, it’s own energy, greater?
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That doesn’t explain why the diagram says
"- Potential energy decreases
- PE increases as charge is forced toward a point"

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