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The sum of a positive and a negative number depends on the size of those numbers. It's like they are competing gangs. The positives don't like the negatives and vice versa. So they will fight. You take the two numbers and subtract the smaller one from the bigger one. WHich ever "gang" was bigger wins, so whatever is left over gets to keep their sign. For example -7 + 5. 7-5=2, but there were more negatives, so it is -2.
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Negative number plus a positive?
If the negative number is bigger then the sum would be negative.If the positive number is bigger then the sum is positive.
Is the the sum of a negative number and a positive number always positive?
No
How can you decide if the sum of two numbers is positive negative or zero without calculating the sum?
The sum of two negative numbers is positive and the sum of two negatives is negative. If you have both positive and negative numbers the sum can be either so look at the absolute value. If the negative number has a greater absolute value, the sum is negative. If the positive number has a greater absolute value the sum is positive. If the absolute values are equal, the sum is zero.
How can you decide if the sum of two numbers is positive negative or zero without actually calculating the sum?
The sum of two positive numbers is always positive, and the sum of two negatives is always negative. If you have a positive and a negative number, there sum can be either, so look at the absolute values to decide. For example -3+2=-1. Since all you care about is the sign, look at the absolute value. If the negative number has a greater absolute value, the sum is negative and if the positive number's absolute value, which is the number itself, is bigger, the sum is positive. If the absolute values are equal, the sum is 0.
Dose a negative number plus a negative number equal a positive number?
No. The sum of two negative numbers will always be a negative number. If, however, you multiply the numbers, their product will be positive.
