Final answer:
To handle addition and subtraction of numbers with different signs, subtract the smaller number from the larger number and use the sign of the number with the largest absolute value.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with the addition and subtraction of two numbers with different signs, the rule to follow is to subtract the smaller number from the larger number and take the sign of the number with the largest absolute value. This approach ensures that the correct sign is applied to the result based on whether the numbers are positive or negative.
Let's go over how to apply this. For example, when you're faced with -5 + 3, you would subtract the absolute values (5 - 3) to get 2. Since -5 has a larger absolute value than 3, the result takes the sign of -5, so the answer is -2.
Another case is where you have 4 - (-3). First, you change the subtracted number's sign (which makes it 4 + 3) and then add the numbers to get 7 since both numbers are now positive.
The rules for multiplication and division essentially follow the sign of the number with the largest absolute value as well. Multiplying or dividing numbers with the same sign results in a positive value, whereas the opposite signs give a negative result.