Essential Rules for Adding and Subtracting Integers

Adding and subtracting integers can be tricky. This is especially true for students who find it hard to understand the number line and how positive and negative numbers work. Here are some important rules to help you out:

1. Adding Integers:

   • If both integers are positive, just add them together: ( a + b ).
   • If both integers are negative, add their absolute values (how far they are from zero) and keep the negative sign: (-a + -b = -(a + b)).
   • If one integer is positive and the other is negative, subtract the smaller number from the larger number. Then, use the sign of the bigger number.

2. Subtracting Integers:

   • Remember, subtracting an integer is like adding its opposite. So, you can think of it this way: ( a - b = a + (-b) ).
   • Watch out for the signs! Subtracting can be confusing because you have to decide whether to add the absolute values or change the sign.

If you practice and visualize these problems on a number line, you'll have a much better understanding of how to work with integers. Keep practicing, and you'll get the hang of it!