Integer Operations Basics
Ever notice how numbers can cancel each other out? When you have a negative number and its positive counterpart, they form a zero pair. For example, 7 and -7 are the same distance from zero but in opposite directions, and they add up to zero (7 + (-7) = 0).
The absolute value of a number is simply its distance from zero, regardless of direction. That's why absolute values are always positive!
When adding integers with the same sign, add their values and keep that sign. When adding integers with different signs, subtract the smaller value from the larger one and keep the sign of the larger number. For example, -11 + 6 equals -5 because 11 is bigger than 6, so we subtract (11-6=5) and keep the negative sign.
Remember this: Same signs add and keep; different signs subtract and keep the sign of the bigger number. This simple rhyme can save you on your next math test!