Intermediate Algebra for College Students (7th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13417-894-7
ISBN 13: 978-0-13417-894-3

Chapter 1 - Section 1.2 - Operations with Real Numbers and Simplifying Algebraic Expressions - Exercise Set - Page 29: 153

Answer

To add two numbers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value. The sign of the sum is the same as the sign of the addend with the bigger absolute value. (refer to the step-by-step part for the example)

Work Step by Step

To add two numbers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value. The sign of the sum is the same as the sign of the addend with the bigger absolute value. Example: $5+(-3)$ Subtract the smaller absolute value from the bigger absolute value: $|5| - |-3| = 5-3=2$ The addend with the bigger absolute value is 5, which is positive. Thus, the sum must be positive, so: $5+(-3)= 2$ To add two numbers with the same sign, add their absolute values. The sum will have the same sign as the two numbers.
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