Table of Contents
- Addition of two Negative Integers
- Using Number Line
- Using Absolute Values
- Summary
- What’s Next?
In the previous segment, we discussed the addition of two positive integers. In this segment, we will look at the addition of two negative integers.
Addition of two negative integers
- The sum of two negative integers is always negative.
- Adding a negative integer decreases the value of a number.
- That is, adding a negative integer is the same as subtraction of its absolute value.
- There are two ways in which two negative integers can be added:
- Using the number line
- Using absolute value
Let us understand each of the method using the following example:
Q. Add -4 and -2.
Solution:
(i) Using the number line
Mark -4 on the number line.
That is, move four steps from 0, towards the left.
Next, -2 is to be added.
Adding a negative integer is the same as subtraction of its absolute value.
The absolute value of -2 is 2.
So, ‘add -4 and -2’ is the same as ‘subtract 2 from -4’.
On a number line, moving towards the left means subtraction. Therefore to add -2, we move 2 steps to the left from -4.
