How do I add negative numbers?

Question

Please help me with my math!!!! i really need help with thiis or i'll fail! how do i add negative numbers?!?!?!!? please and thanks!!!!

Answer 1

If you need a simple way to understand it, try imagining holes and piles of dirt. The holes are negative numbers, and the piles of dirt are positive numbers.

So, if you have -3 + -2 then you would actually have three holes plus two holes, which is five holes, so it would be -5.

If you have -4 + 2, then you have four holes and two piles. Fill in two of the holes with two of the piles and you'll have two holes left. The answer is -2.

Again, if you have -5 + 8, then you have five holes and eight piles. Fill in all five holes with five of the piles of dirt. You'll still have three piles of dirt left, so the answer is 3.

I hope that helped!!!! It's not technical like the above answers, but it does the job! :)

Answer 2

When dealing with addition of negative numbers, you're going to have three cases:

1) Both numbers are negative.
2) Only one number is negative.

If both numbers are negative, all you do is add the numbers normally while retaining the sign.

Example:
-3 + -5 = -8
-88 + -2 = -90

If only one of the numbers is negative, you would perform subtraction of the bigger number minus the smaller number, ignoring the sign in the process. For example, if you were calculating -3 + 5, notice that ignoring the signs, the 5 is bigger. You would go "5 - 3" and keep the sign of the bigger number. In this case, it's a + sign, so the answer would be 2.

For -88 + 2, you would again take the "bigger" number, 88, and subtract it by 2, to give you 86, BUT the sign of the bigger number is negative, so your answer would be -86.

Answer 3

When you add a negative and a negative, the answer will always be a negative. Here's an example:
-10+-10=-20

Answer 4

-21-2= -23
add and give the negative signal
::
-21+2 = -19
-24+324 =300
you must subtract and give the signal of the biggest absolute number.
::
-9+9=0
Equal numbers and different signals. The two numbers are cancelled.
::

Answer 5

The same way you add positive numbers. Add numbers of the like sign. Then subtract the negative numbers from the positive ones. Or if the negative number is larger in magnitude, subtract the positive from the magnitude of the negative and negate the result.

Answer 6

Lol guys listen: two negatives equal a negative. Say -5+-6 That ='s -11. You are thinking of multiplying. -5x-6=30

Answer 7

Think of it in terms of money.

If someone steals $5 and then another $7, you have lost a total of $12.

-5 + -7 = -12



****The people who are writing that a negative and a negative are a positive... are thinking about multiplying... not adding!

Good luck on your test!

Answer 8

2 negatives = a positive ( - 2 + - 6 = 8 )
2 positives = a positive (4 + 4 = 8 )
a positive and a negative = a negative (eg. 4 + -6 = -10)

Answer 9

addition of negative numbes

( - ) + ( - ) = ( - )

( - 5 ) + ( - 7 ) = - (5 + 7 ) = - (12) = - 12

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

When subtracting positive and negative numbers. Place the sign of the larger absolute value .

( + ) + ( - ) =

( 24) + ( - 4) = 20.. . .24 is the large absolute value.

( 4) + ( - 24) = - 20. . .- 24 is the large absolute value

- - - - - - - - -

Answer 10

When you add two negatives....for example....
- 4 + - 3 = -7.

example....if you start with a
+ 4 + - 7= -3.

I hope this helps....