Positive and Negative Rules (quick reference) p.777-783
By Robert C. Gonzalez CE Instructor, San Antonio College
Add and Subtract SAME signs Add all the numbers
and keep the sign.
DIFFERENT signs Subtract all the
numbers and keep the sign of the “bigger number”
“bigger number” is an oversimplified way to say “the number with the largest absolute value”.
Double Sign rule SAME + + or - Change double sign
into a “+” (plus sign)
DIFFERENT + - or - + Change double sign
into a “-” (subtraction sign)
Multiply and Divide SAME Neg * Neg = Positive Pos/ Pos = Positive
DIFFERENT Neg * Pos = Neg Neg/Pos = Neg