» Adding Signed Numbers

Adding Signed Numbers

By Susan Cantey

 

When adding signed numbers,

Think of it as cash,

Negative, you owe someone,

Positive, you have,

The answer is the balance

Ahead or behind,

You’re in the black when you’re positive,

Red’s the other kind.

 

Positive plus positive is always positive,

Negative plus negative is always negative,

But when you’re adding one of each,

Do yourself a favor,

Subtract their magnitudes

And keep the sign of the one that’s “greater.”

 

When adding signed numbers,

Never get uptight,

Negative moves left,

Positive moves right,

Always start at zero,

Then take one step at a time,

You’re standing on the answer,

When you walk the number line.

 

(chorus)

 

8 + -6 is 2,

Cause 8 has the greater magnitude,

-9 + 5 ‘s -4,

Cause between the two, 9 is more,

-5 + 2 ‘s -3,

It quite elementary.

 

Some people only like

To memorize the rules,

But in my opinion,

Rules are rather cruel,

If you use a model

That makes some sense to you,

Then you’ll be the master

Of signed numbers when you’re through.

 

(chorus)