Law of signs for addition / subtraction

(1) When adding or combining two numbers with like signs, you add the absolute

value of the two numbers and use the sign of the original numbers for the result.

(2) When adding or combining two numbers with unlike signs, you subtract the

absolute value of the number with the smallest absolute value from the absolute

value of the number with the largest absolute value and use the sign

corresponding to the number with the largest absolute value.

Example: 4 + (-8)

Solution:

4 4 (absolute value of 4)

-8 8 (absolute value of -8)

8 4 4 (difference of the two absolute values)

Since the absolute value of -8 is larger than the absolute value of 4, we use

the sign of -8 in our res



ult.

Answer: 4 + (-8) = -4

(3) For subtraction, the problem can be changed to an addition problem and rule-1

and rule-2 above can be applied.

Law of signs for Multiplication / Division

(1) When two numbers with like signs are multiplied or divided the result is always

positive.

(2) When two numbers with different signs are multiplied or divided the result is

always negative.
How to Add and Subtract

Positive and Negative Numbers

Numbers Can be Positive or Negative

This is the Number Line:

number line -10 to +10

Negative Numbers (−) Positive Numbers (+)

minus plus

"−" is the negative sign. "+" is the positive sign

No Sign Means Positive

If a number has no sign it usually means that it is a positive number.

Example: 5 is really +5

Balloons and Weights

Let us think about numbers as balloons (positive) and weights (negative):

add subtract general

This basket has balloons and weights tied to it:

The balloons pull up (positive)

And the weights drag down (negative)

Adding a Positive Number

Adding positive numbers is just simple addition.

add subtract ++ goes up

We can add balloons (we are adding positive value)

the basket gets pulled upwards (positive)

Example: 2 + 3 = 5

is really saying

"Positive 2 plus Positive 3 equals Positive 5"

We could write it as (+2) + (+3) = (+5)

Subtracting A Positive Number

Subtracting positive numbers is just simple subtraction.

add subtract -+ goes down

We can take away balloons (we are subtracting positive value)

the basket gets pulled downwards (negative)

Example: 6 − 3 = 3

is really saying

"Positive 6 minus Positive 3 equals Positive 3"

We could write it as (+6) − (+3) = (+3)

Adding A Negative Number

Now let's see what adding and subtracting negative numbers looks like:

add subtract +- goes down

We can add weights (we are adding negative values)

the basket gets pulled downwards (negative)

Example: 6 + (−3) = 3

is really saying

"Positive 6 plus Negative 3 equals Positive 3"

We could write it as (+6) + (−3) = (+3)

The last two examples showed us that taking away balloons (subtracting a positive) or adding weights
(adding a negative) both make the basket go down.

So these have the same result:

(+6) − (+3) = (+3)

(+6) + (−3) = (+3)

In other words subtracting a positive is the same as adding a negative.

Subtracting A Negative Number

add subtract -- goes up

Lastly, we can take away weights (we are subtracting negative values)

the basket gets pulled upwards (positive)

Example: What is 6 − (−3) ?

6−(−3) = 6 + 3 = 9

Yes indeed! Subtracting a Negative is the same as adding!

Two Negatives make a Positive

What Did We Find?

Adding a positive number is simple addition

plus plus gives plus

Adding a Positive is Addition

Positive and Negative Together ...

plus minus gives minus Subtracting a Positive

or

Adding a Negative

is

Subtraction

Example: What is 6 − (+3) ?

6−(+3) = 6 − 3 = 3

Example: What is 5 + (−7) ?

5+(−7) = 5 − 7 = −2

Subtracting a negative ...

minus minus gives plus

Subtracting a Negative is the same as Adding

Example: What is 14 − (−4) ?

14−(−4) = 14 + 4 = 18
The Rules:

It can all be put into two rules:

Rule Example

+(+) Two like signs become a positive sign plus 3+(+2) = 3 + 2 = 5

−(−) 6−(−3) = 6 + 3 = 9

+(−) Two unlike signs become a negative sign minus 7+(−2) = 7 − 2 = 5

−(+) 8−(+2) = 8 − 2 = 6

They are "like signs" when they are like each other (in other words: the same).

So, all you have to remember is:

Two like signs become a positive sign

Two unlike signs become a negative sign

Example: What is 5+(−2) ?

+(−) are unlike signs (they are not the same), so they become a negative sign.

5+(−2) = 5 − 2 = 3

Example: What is 25−(−4) ?

−(−) are like signs, so they become a positive sign.

25−(−4) = 25+4 = 29

Example: What is −6+(+3) ?

+(+) are like signs, so they become a positive sign.

−6+(+3) = −6 + 3 = -3

Start at −6 on the number line, move forward 3, and you end up at −3

Now Play With It!

pat athlete Try playing Casey Runner, you need to know the rules of positive and negative to
succeed!

A Common Sense Explanation

And there is a "common sense" explanation:

dog brocolli

If I say "Eat!" I am encouraging you to eat (positive)

If I say "Do not eat!" I am saying the opposite (negative).

Now if I say "Do NOT not eat!", I am saying I don't want you to starve, so I am back to saying "Eat!"
(positive).

So, two negatives make a positive, and if that satisfies you, then you are done!
Another Common Sense Explanation

A friend is +, an enemy is −

++⇒+ a friend of a friend is my friend

+−⇒− a friend of an enemy is my enemy

−+⇒− an enemy of a friend is my enemy

−−⇒+ an enemy of an enemy is my friend

A Bank Example

Example: You have $80 in your account right now.

Last year the bank subtracted $10 by mistake, and they want to fix it.

So the bank must take away a negative $10:

$80−(−$10) = $80 + $10 = $90

So you get $10 more in your account.

A Long Example You Might Like

Ally's Points

alexa

Ally can be naughty or nice. So Ally's parents have said

"If you are nice we will add 3 points (+3).

If you are naughty, we take away 3 points (−3).

When you reach 30 Points you get a toy."

Ally starts the day with 9 Points: 9

Ally's Mom discovers spilt milk: 9−3=6

Then Dad confesses he spilt the milk and writes "undo".

How do we "undo" a minus 3?

We add 3 back again!

So Mom calculates: 6 − (−3) = 6 + 3 = 9

alexas points

So when we subtract a negative, we gain points

(i.e. the same as adding points).

minus minus gives plus

So Subtracting a Negative is the same as Adding

A few days later. Ally has 12 points.

Mom adds 3 points because Ally's room is clean. 12 + 3 = 15

Dad says "I cleaned that room" and writes "undo" on the chart. Mom calculates: 15 − (+3) = 12

Dad sees Ally brushing the dog. Writes "+3" on the chart. Mom calculates: 12 + (+3) = 15

Ally throws a stone against the window. Dad writes "−3" on the chart. Mom calculates: 15 +
(−3) = 12

alexas points2

See: both "15 − (+3)" and "15 + (−3)" result in 12.

So:

It doesn't matter if you subtract positive points

or add negative points,

you still end up losing points.

plus minus gives minus So, Subtracting a Positive

or

Adding a Negative

is

Subtraction

Try These Exercises ...

Operations of Signed Numbers/Integers (rules with add/sub/mult/div)

Addition & Subtraction

Same (like) signs ADD and KEEP that sign.

Different (unlike) signs SUBTRACT and KEEP sign of the larger absolute value.

Examples:

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Same sign. Add and keep the sign.

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Different signs. Subtract and keep the sign of the larger absolute value.
equation image indicator

Different signs. Subtract and keep the sign of the larger absolute value.

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Same signs. Add keep the sign.

Multiplication and Division of Integers

Multiply or divide, if the signs are same (like) the sign of the product or quotient will be positive.

Multiply or divide, if the signs are different (unlike) the sign of the product or quotient will be negative.

Examples:

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Same signs. The sign is positive.

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Same signs. The sign is positive.

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Different signs. The sign is negative

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Same signs. The sign is positive.

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Different signs. The sign is negative

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Same signs. The sign is positive.

Operations of Signed Numbers/Integers (rules with add/sub/mult/div)

Addition & Subtraction

Same (like) signs ADD and KEEP that sign.

Different (unlike) signs SUBTRACT and KEEP sign of the larger absolute value.

Examples:

equation image indicator

Same sign. Add and keep the sign.

equation image indicator

Different signs. Subtract and keep the sign of the larger absolute value.
equation image indicator

Different signs. Subtract and keep the sign of the larger absolute value.

equation image indicator

Same signs. Add keep the sign.

Multiplication and Division of Integers

Multiply or divide, if the signs are same (like) the sign of the product or quotient will be positive.

Multiply or divide, if the signs are different (unlike) the sign of the product or quotient will be negative.

Examples:

equation image indicator