ADDING INTEGERS WITH DIFFERENT SIGNS

To add integers with different signs, subtract the lesser absolute value from the greater absolute value. Use the sign of the integer with the greater absolute value for the sum.

The following steps will be useful to find the sum of two numbers with different signs. 

Step 1 :

Find the absolute values of both the numbers. 

Step 2 : 

Find the difference between the absolute values.

Step 3 :

Take the sign of the number with the greater absolute value for the result received in step 2 . 

Example 1 : 

Find the sum : 

-11 + 6

Solution : 

Find the absolute values of both the numbers. 

|-11|  =  11

|6|  =  6

Find the difference between the absolute values.

|-11| - |6|  =  11 - 6

|-11| - |6|  =  5

Take the sign of the number with the greater absolute value.

-11 + 6  =  -5

Example 2 : 

Find the sum : 

7 + (-3)

Solution : 

Find the absolute values of both the numbers. 

|7|  =  7

|-3|  =  3

Find the difference between the absolute values.

|7| - |-3|  =  7 - 3

|7| - |-3|  =  4

Take the sign of the number with the greater absolute value.

7 + (-3)  =  4

Example 3 : 

Find the sum : 

-7 + 3

Solution : 

Find the absolute values of both the numbers. 

|-7|  =  7

|3|  =  3

Find the difference between the absolute values.

|-7| - |3|  =  7 - 3

|-7| - |3|  =  4

Take the sign of the number with the greater absolute value.

-7 + 3  =  -4

Example 4 : 

Find the value of a, if a > 0.  

11 + (-16)  =  -a

Solution : 

11 + (-16)  =  -a -----(1)

Find the absolute values of 11 and -16.  

|11|  =  11

|-16|  =  16

Find the difference between the absolute values.

|-16| - |11|  =  16 - 11

|-16| - |11|  =  5

Take the sign of the number with the greater absolute value.

11 + (-16)  =  -5 -----(2)

From (1) and (2), 

-a  =  -5

Multiply each side by -1.

a  =  5

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