Adding signed numbers

To add signed numbers you must know the following rules:

1. If the signs are alike, you will add

Like signed addends produce a like signed sum.
(negative addend + negative addend = negative sum)
(positive addend + positive addend = positive sum)

Ex. 1: (5) + (+5) = +10 (remember when there are no signs it is positive by defualt)
Ex. 2: -5 + -5 = -10

2. Unlike signs are to be subtracted, the sign of the larger absolte value (how many spaces away from zero a number is) carries the sign.

*Absolute Zero means that you take away the signs (no negatives, no positives, just numbers) and compare the numbers. The absolute value of 7 is "7"; the absolute value of -52 is "52"

Ex. 3: -6 + (+7) = +1 (the absolute value of 7 is greater than the absolute value of 6 (7 > 6) so the sign for the seven (+) is the sign of the sum (+1).

Ex. 4: -9 + (+34) = +23
This is like saying I owe $9.00 but I then paid $34. I now have a credit of $23 (+23)

Ex. 5: -44 + (+4) = -40 (I owed $44 but then I paid $4 and now I still owe $40 (-40)