How Do You Add Signed Numbers (Integers)?
Many of my students have difficulty adding signed numbers (integers). The procedure is very simple, if you just follow these simple steps, and think of the numbers as how much money you have or owe. Adding two positive numbers is easy. That is probably not the source of your difficulty. Think of positive numbers as how much money you have, so you’re just adding up the value of your bank accounts. Adding two negative numbers is also easy. Think of negative numbers as how much money you owe. You’re adding up your debts. For example, think about (-3) + (-5). You owe $3 to one friend, and $5 to another. You owe $8 in total, which we write as -8 since you owe it, and don’t have it. Adding a positive and negative number is a bit trickier. First of all, remember that it doesn’t matter what order you add the two numbers in. Think of the positive number as money that you have, and the negative number as money that you owe. Let’s add (-3) + 5. You owe $3, but have $5. That’s good, so your answer
