1. NEGATIVE NUMBERS, ADDITION

2. WHAT IS A NEGATIVE NUMBER?  Negative numbers are on the left side of the number line.  If you have a negative number you can say you “owe” or you are “in the hole”.  If you have a positive number you can say you “have”.  For example, if you have a negative number in your bank account, you owe them money.   If you have a positive number in your bank account, you have money!

3. (PARENTHESES)  When working with negative numbers, it is a good idea to use parentheses to keep the signs with the right number.  Example:  (-4) + (-2) = YES!!!!  -4 + -2 = NOOOOO!!!

4. RULES FOR ADDING NEGATIVE NUMBERS:  When we add two positive numbers, the answer is ALWAYS positive.  Example: (+5) + (+3) = (+8)  I HAVE 8  When we add two negative numbers, the answer will ALWAYS be negative.  Example: (-4) + (-2) = (-6)  I OWE 6

5. MORE RULES…  When adding number with different signs, the sign of the answer will be the same as the bigger number.  The answer will be the difference between the numbers.  Example: (-3) + (+5) =  Here I have a negative and a positive.  Since (+5) is the bigger number and is positive, my answer must then also be positive.  To find the answer subtract 3 from 5.  5 – 3 = 2, therefore, my answer is (+2)  (-3) + (+5) = (+2)

6. SIMPLY PUT…  The formula or steps to adding numbers with different signs is:  Take the sign from the largest number, then subtract the numbers to find the difference.