Answer
To add two numbers with difference signs, perform the following steps:
(1) Find the absolute value of each number.
(2) From the results in Step 1, subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value.
(3) The sum will have the same sign as the number with the bigger absolute value
(Please refer to the step-by-step part for an example.)
Work Step by Step
To add two numbers with difference signs, perform the following steps:
(1) Find the absolute value of each number.
(2) From the results in Step 1, subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value.
(3) The sum will have the same sign as the number with the bigger absolute value
Example:
$6+(-8)$
Step 1:
$|6|=6$
$|-8| = 8$
Step 2:
$8-6=2$
Step 3:
$-8$ has a bigger absolute value so the sum must be negative.
Thus, $6+(-8) =-2$
