what is -3+5

Question

what is negative 3 plus positive 5. -3+5

 

Answer 1

Remember the commutative property of addition:     A  +  B   =   B  +  A

 

In this problem:   (-3) + 5  =  5 + (-3)

                                        =  5 - 3              [because adding a negative number is

                                                                 the same as subtracting a positive number]

                                        = 2

Answer 2

When you add a negative number to a positive number, you are going opposite directions on the number line, so it is a subtraction problem, essentially.  You will subtract 3 from 5 and the answer takes the sign of the larger number (5 here, so the answer is +2).