Question #af900

2 Answers
Aug 15, 2016

#-5+4 = -1#

Explanation:

Positive values indicate a given number of moves to the RIGHT, UP the number line.
Negative values indicate a given number of moves to the LEFT, DOWN the number line.

So. adding positive and negative numbers on the numbers involves up and down moves.

Always start from 0 and then see where you end up. The order of the moves does not matter.

#-5# means "go 5 to the left". You end up at -5.
#+4# means from -5 "go 4 to the right.

The number of left moves is more than the number of right moves.
You will end up on #-1#

OR
#+4# means from -0 "go 4 to the right" to end up on 4.
#-5# means "go 5 to the left" from 4 .
You pass 0 and end up at #-1.#

Aug 16, 2016

#-5+4=-1#

Explanation:

This is yet another method to understand the problem

Given -

#(-5)+4=?#

First remove the bracket.
Ahead of the bracket there is no sign.
It means there is a "+" sign.
[It is mathematical convention to show only the negative sign and the plus sign.

How to remove the bracket. Multiply the "plus" sign [This is not shown explicitly] with minus sign.

The result is minus sign.

Then-

#-5+4=?#

You are to add two signed numbers

One is negative another is positive.

Find the difference. It is #1#

The forget the sign. Find the biggest number. Identify the sign of that number.

Place it before the result #-1#