Answer
To add two numbers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value.
The sign of the sum is the same as the sign of the addend with the bigger absolute value.
(refer to the step-by-step part for the example)
Work Step by Step
To add two numbers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value.
The sign of the sum is the same as the sign of the addend with the bigger absolute value.
Example:
$5+(-3)$
Subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value:
$|5| - |-3| = 5-3=2$
The addend with the bigger absolute value is 5, which is positive.
Thus, the sum must be positive, so:
$5+(-3)= 2$
To add two numbers with the same sign, add their absolute values.
The sum will have the same sign as the two numbers.
