Adding integers

Objective

Add positive and negative integers accurately.

What it means

Adding integers combines values while tracking sign: same signs add and keep the sign; different signs subtract and take the sign of the larger absolute value.

See it

Use this model while you read. Move it around to see what the math is doing.

Key terms

Sum

The result of adding numbers together.

Same sign

Both numbers positive or both negative.

Rules to remember

• Same signs: add the absolute values, keep the common sign.
• Different signs: subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger, keep the sign of the larger.

Step by step

1. 1Check the signsDecide if the numbers have the same sign or different signs.
2. 2CombineAdd or subtract absolute values accordingly, then attach the correct sign.