does a negative plus a positive equal a negative

less than a minute read 16-10-2024

does a negative plus a positive equal a negative

Does a Negative Plus a Positive Always Equal a Negative? 🤔

The short answer is no, a negative plus a positive does not always equal a negative. It depends on the magnitude of the numbers involved. Let's explore this with some examples and explanations.

Understanding the Concepts

Negative numbers represent values less than zero.
Positive numbers represent values greater than zero.
Addition is the process of combining two numbers.

When a Negative Plus a Positive Equals a Negative:

Imagine a scenario where you have a debt of $5 (represented as -5) and you receive $3 (represented as +3).

You add the two values: -5 + 3 = -2.

You still have a debt of $2! This is because the magnitude of the negative number (-5) was greater than the positive number (+3).

When a Negative Plus a Positive Equals a Positive:

Let's reverse the scenario. You have a debt of $3 (-3) and receive $5 (+5).

You add the two values: -3 + 5 = 2.

You now have $2! In this case, the magnitude of the positive number (+5) was greater than the negative number (-3).

The Key Takeaway:

The sign of the result when adding a negative and a positive number is determined by the larger magnitude. If the negative number has a larger magnitude, the result will be negative. If the positive number has a larger magnitude, the result will be positive.

Practical Examples

Here are some real-world examples where adding a negative and a positive number can be encountered:

Temperature: If the temperature is -5 degrees Celsius and it rises by 3 degrees Celsius, the new temperature will be -2 degrees Celsius.
Finance: If you owe $100 (-100) and pay back $50 (+50), you will still have a debt of $50 (-50).
Elevation: If you start at an elevation of -20 meters (below sea level) and climb 15 meters (+15), you will be at an elevation of -5 meters.

Conclusion

Remember, adding a negative and a positive number is not always a simple case of "negative + positive = negative". The answer depends on the magnitude of each number. This concept is essential for understanding operations with signed numbers and is fundamental to various fields like mathematics, physics, and finance.