Final answer:
Addition involves combining whole numbers, following the commutative property (e.g., 2 + 3 = 3 + 2 = 5). When adding or subtracting numbers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger and keep the sign of the larger. For decimals, round the result to the decimal place with the least precision among the given numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you add two whole numbers, you combine their values to get a total sum. The basic principle when working with addition is commutativity, which means that the order in which the numbers are added does not affect the sum. For example, 2 + 3 is the same as 3 + 2, and both equal 5. This is expressed mathematically as A + B = B + A. When adding numbers with different signs, if you have one negative and one positive number, you subtract the smaller number from the larger one and keep the sign of the larger number, for example, -5 + 3 equals -2.
If you are working with subtraction of whole numbers, you change the sign of the number being subtracted and then follow the same rules as addition. It's essential to pay attention to the signs when adding or subtracting numbers because they determine whether you are combining values or finding the difference between them.
If you encounter numbers in scientific notation, you must first ensure they have the same exponent before performing addition or subtraction. Also, for accuracy, when dealing with decimals, always round the final result to the same number of decimal places as the number with the least number of decimal places.