Complete addition and subtraction sentences with integers

  • Integers are whole numbers that include positive numbers, negative numbers, and zero.
  • Example: -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3.

  • Same sign addition: When adding two integers with the same sign, add their absolute values and keep the sign.
    • Example: 5 + 3 = 8, -5 + (-3) = -8.
  • Different sign addition: When adding integers with different signs, subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger absolute value and use the sign of the number with the larger absolute value.
    • Example: 7 + (-4) = 3, -7 + 4 = -3.

  • Subtraction rule: To subtract an integer, add its opposite.
    • Example: 5 – 3 = 5 + (-3) = 2, -5 – 3 = -5 + (-3) = -8.
  • When subtracting negative integers: Remember that subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the positive version of that number.
    • Example: 6 – (-4) = 6 + 4 = 10.

  • Addition: Complete the sentence:
    5 + (-3) = ?
    Solution: 5 + (-3) = 2 (add the absolute values and keep the sign of the number with the larger absolute value).
  • Subtraction: Complete the sentence:
    -7 – 4 = ?
    Solution: -7 – 4 = -11 (subtract and keep the negative sign).

Learn with an example

➡️ Type the integer that makes the following addition number sentence true:

_____+ -5 = -9

You want to find the number that makes the addition number sentence true.

Later on, you’ll learn another way of solving problems like this, but for now, there is a helpful shortcut that you can use. Look at the two numbers and ignore their signs. They are 5 and 9. Now find their sum and difference. To find the sum, add 5 and 9 to get 14. To compute the difference, subtract the smaller number, 5, from the larger number, 9, to get 4.

Now you have two numbers to try: 14 and 4. If you make these two numbers negative, you’ll have another two numbers to try: -14 and -4. The correct answer will be one of these four numbers.

Try 14:

14 + -5 = 9

Try 4:

4 + -5 = -1

Try -14:

-14 + -5 = -19

Try -4:

-4 + -5 = -9

The number -4 makes the number sentence true, so the correct answer is -4.

➡️ Type the integer that makes the following subtraction number sentence true:

-7 −____= -15

You want to find the number that makes the subtraction number sentence true.

Later on, you’ll learn another way of solving problems like this, but for now, there is a helpful shortcut that you can use. Look at the two numbers and ignore their signs. They are 7 and 15. Now find their sum and difference. To find the sum, add 7 and 15 to get 22. To compute the difference, subtract the smaller number, 7, from the larger number, 15, to get 8.

Now you have two numbers to try: 22 and 8. If you make these two numbers negative, you’ll have another two numbers to try: -22 and -8. The correct answer will be one of these four numbers.

Try 22:

-7 − 22 = -29

Try 8:

-7 − 8 = -15

Try -22:

7 − 22 = 15

Try -8:

-7 − -8 = 1

The number 8 makes the number sentence true, so the correct answer is 8.

➡️ Type the integer that makes the following addition number sentence true:

 ____+ -6 = -8

You want to find the number that makes the addition number sentence true.

Later on, you’ll learn another way of solving problems like this, but for now, there is a helpful shortcut that you can use. Look at the two numbers and ignore their signs. They are 6 and 8. Now find their sum and difference. To find the sum, add 6 and 8 to get 14. To compute the difference, subtract the smaller number, 6, from the larger number, 8, to get 2.

Now you have two numbers to try: 14 and 2. If you make these two numbers negative, you’ll have another two numbers to try: -14 and -2. The correct answer will be one of these four numbers.

Try 14:

14 + -6 = 8

Try 2:

2 + -6 = -4

Try -14:

-14 + -6 = -20

Try -2:

-2 + -6 = -8

The number -2 makes the number sentence true, so the correct answer is -2.

Try some practice problems!