What is the rule for adding two numbers when they have different signs?

When adding two numbers with different signs, the process involves looking at the absolute values of the numbers and determining their difference. The rule is to subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger absolute value. Once the difference is obtained, the result takes the sign of the number that has the greatest absolute value.

This means that if you have a positive and a negative number, you'll determine which of the two has the larger absolute value first. For instance, if you are adding -3 and 5, you find that 5 has a greater absolute value than -3. So, you would subtract 3 from 5, yielding a result of 2, and since 5 is positive (the number with the greatest absolute value), your final answer will also be positive.

This rule helps in simplifying the process of addition with differing signs and ensures that the outcome reflects the influence of the original numbers’ magnitudes and signs.