Download Addition Rules

Addition Rules
If the signs are the same:
1)
2)
Add the two numbers together (ignoring the signs)
Your answer will have the same sign as the
original two numbers.
Examples
5 + 8 = 13
Both numbers are positive therefore the answer is positive.
-4 + (-8) = -12
Both numbers are negative, therefore the answer is negative.
If the signs are different:
1)
2)
Subtract the two numbers (ignoring the signs)
Your answer will have the same sign as the number with
the larger absolute value.
Examples
-7 + 3 = -4
-7 has a larger absolute value than 3 so the answer is negative.
-2 + 8 = 6
8 has a larger absolute value than –2 so the answer is positive.
9 + -4 = 5
9 has a larger absolute value than –4 so the answer is positive.
4 + -7 = -3
-7 has a larger absolute value than 4 so the answer is negative.