Addition of Integers

The three main possibilities in the addition of integers are:

• Addition between two positive numbers
• Addition between two negative numbers
• Addition between a positive number and a negative number

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Whenever a positive number and a negative number are added, the sign of the greater number will decide the operation and sign of the result. In the above example 10 + (-15) = -5 and (-10) + 15 =5; here, without sign 15 is greater than 10 hence, numbers will be subtracted and the answer will give the sign of the greater number.

We know that the multiplication of a negative sign and a positive sign will result in a negative sign, therefore if we write 10 + (-5), it means the ‘+’ sign here is multiplied by ‘-’ inside the bracket. Therefore, the result becomes 10 – 5 = 5.

Alternatively, to find the sum of a positive and a negative integer, take the absolute value (“absolute value” means to remove any negative sign of a number, and make the number positive) of each integer and then subtract these values. Take the above example, 10 + (-15); absolute value of 10 is 10 and -15 is 15.

⇒ 10 – 15 = -5