Rules for Adding & Subtracting Integers
Adding & Subtracting Integers Any SUBTRACTION problem can be expressed as an ADDITION problem by… “ADDING THE OPPOSITE” 16 – 10 becomes? 16 + (-10) -26 – 13 becomes? -26 + (-13) 15 – (-22) becomes? 15 + (+22) -42 – (-14) becomes? -42 + (+14)
METHOD 1 – SAME SIGN When adding integers with the SAME SIGN (i.e. both positive or both negative) Example: -122 + (-234) Make both integers positive (absolute value!) ADD the numbers If the original integers were POSITIVE, the final answer is POSITIVE If the original integers were NEGATIVE, the final answer is NEGATIVE 122 + 234 356 Nope! Yup! Answer: -356
METHOD 2 – DIFFERENT SIGN When adding integers with DIFFERENT SIGNS Example: 122 + (-234) Make both integers positive (absolute value!) SUBTRACT the smaller from the larger If the larger integer was POSITIVE, the final answer is POSITIVE If the larger integer was NEGATIVE, the final answer is NEGATIVE 234 – 122 112 Nope! Yup! Answer: -112