How do you solve -4+-3 and -2+7

Question

If you could show the steps on how to solve that would be great thanks 

Answer 1

Hi Erin, Three important rules to remember here.

 

1)When ever you have 2 signs right next to each other get it down to 1. When the 2 signs are different make it - and when they are both the same make it +.

 

Once you have eliminated 2 signs right next to each other then combine the numbers.

 

2)If the two numbers have the same sign in front of them just add the two numbers and retain the sign they both have. A number without a sign in front of it implies +.

 

3)If the two numbers have a different sign in front of them take the difference between the 2 numbers and give it the sign of the bigger number.

 

For your example -4+-3 becomes -4-3 using rule 1. The answer is -7 using rule 2.

 

For your example -2+7 the answer is 5 using rule 3. The + in front of the 5 is implied.

 

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Subtracting a negative number is the same thing as adding a positive number.

 

-4+-3=-7

-2+7=7-2=5

Answer 3

-4 + -3

Think of it in terms of money. If you owe one friend 4 dollars and another friend 3 dollars, you owe a total of 7 dollars. 

 

Looking at it this way may make it a bit easier to solve. Owe is a negative concept. The signs are the same so you add the numbers and keep the signs. 

 

   -4

+ -3

  -7

 

-2 + 7

 

So with the same thought in mind. You want to pay for something that costs 2 dollars and you have 7 dollars in your hand. Because the signs are different, you will subtract the numbers and take the sign of the larger, OR you can change the order of the problem. 

 

-2 + 7 = 7 + -2 = 7 - 2 = 5.

 

I hope this is helpful!