N
Velvet Digest

What are the rules for adding positive and negative numbers?

Author

Christopher Snyder

Updated on May 28, 2026

The Rules:
Rule Example
+(+) Two like signs become a positive sign 3+(+2) = 3 + 2 = 5
−(−) 6−(−3) = 6 + 3 = 9
+(−) Two unlike signs become a negative sign 7+(−2) = 7 − 2 = 5
−(+) 8−(+2) = 8 − 2 = 6

.

Also to know is, how do you add positive and negative numbers?

Adding Positive and Negative Numbers

  1. Rule 1: Adding positive numbers to positive numbers—it's just normal addition.
  2. Rule 2: Adding positive numbers to negative numbers—count forward the amount you're adding.
  3. Rule 3: Adding negative numbers to positive numbers—count backwards, as if you were subtracting.

Beside above, do 2 negatives make a positive? When you have two negative signs, one turns over, and they add together to make a positive. If you have a positive and a negative, there is one dash left over, and the answer is negative.

Then, how do negative and positive numbers work?

To get a negative number, you need one negative and one positive number. The rule works the same way when you have more than two numbers to multiply or divide. An even number of negative numbers will give a positive answer. An odd number of negative numbers will give a negative answer.

Can the sum of two negative numbers ever be positive?

Rule: The sum of any integer and its opposite is equal to zero. Summary: Adding two positive integers always yields a positive sum; adding two negative integers always yields a negative sum.

Related Question Answers

What are the four rules of maths?

The Four Basic Mathematical Operations. The four basic mathematical operations--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--have application even in the most advanced mathematical theories.

How do you explain negative numbers?

In mathematics, a negative number is a real number that is less than zero. Negative numbers represent opposites. If positive represents a movement to the right, negative represents a movement to the left. If positive represents above sea level, then negative represents below sea level.

What is the rule for negative and positive numbers?

When multiplying a positive and positive number together or negative and negative together, keep the same sign. When you multiply a positive and a negative number together, the result is always negative. Any number multiplied by zero becomes zero and is neither positive or negative.

How do you subtract positive and negative numbers?

Rule 3: Subtracting a negative number from a negative number—when you see the subtraction (minus) sign followed by a negative sign, turn the two signs into a plus sign. Thus, instead of subtracting a negative, you are adding a positive. So, – -5 becomes +5, and continue normally with the addition.

What is the rule for subtracting negative numbers?

Rule 3: Subtracting a negative number from a negative number—when you see the subtraction (minus) sign followed by a negative sign, turn the two signs into a plus sign. Thus, instead of subtracting a negative, you are adding a positive. So, – -5 becomes +5, and continue normally with the addition.

What's a negative times a positive?

Rule 2: A negative number times a positive number equals a negative number. When you multiply a negative number to a positive number, your answer is a negative number. It doesn't matter which order the positive and negative numbers are in that you are multiplying, the answer is always a negative number.

How do you explain negative numbers to children?

If a positive number is distance above sea level, then a negative number is distance below sea level. If a positive number is distance up, then a negative number is distance down. If a positive number is distance to the right, then a negative number is distance to the left.

How do you find the difference between two negative numbers?

When you subtract two negative integers and the first integer (or minuend) is smaller than the second integer (or subtrahend), the difference is negative. When you subtract two negative integers and the first integer (or minuend) is larger than the second integer (or subtrahend), the difference is positive.

Why negative and negative is positive?

When you multiply a negative by a negative you get a positive, because the two negative signs are cancelled out.

Do 2 positives make a positive?

The signs add together physically. When you have two negative signs, one turns over, and they add together to make a positive. If you have a positive and a negative, there is one dash left over, and the answer is negative.

What is a positive minus a positive?

Rule 4: Subtracting a negative number from a positive number—when you see the subtraction (minus) sign followed by a negative sign, turn the two signs into a plus sign. Thus, instead of subtracting a negative, you're adding a positive, so you have a simple addition problem.

Why do 2 minuses make a plus?

If a number is positive, the + is usually missed out before the number. Adding and multiplying combinations of positive and negative numbers can cause confusion and so care must be taken. Addition and Subtraction. Two 'pluses' make a plus, two 'minuses' make a plus.