if the sum of any addition problem is less than a term (in this case 2 is less than 10), then the variable would have to be a negative number. so you would find x by doing 2-10 and you would get -8. so it’s -8+10=2. a way to express that is if you have $-8 in your bank account, you get paid $10 from your babysitting job and now you have $2 in your bank account.