Adding Integers
Below is a quick summary of the rules for adding integers.

Integer addition is a very straightforward process. Just follow the basic steps provided below and you’ll get the correct answers every time. There are two cases when adding integers. The first scenario is when we add integers having the same sign. These are the steps:
Case 1: Steps when Adding Integers with the Same Sign
Step 1: Take the absolute value of each number.
Step 2: Add the absolute values of the numbers.
Step 3: Keep the same sign.
For more practice, click the link below:
Adding Integers Practice Problems with Answers
Examples of Integer Additions with Like Sign
Example 1: Add the integers below that have the same sign.

- Step 1: Take the absolute values of the numbers.

- Step 2: Add the absolute values.

- Step 3: Keep the same sign which is positive.

Example 2: Add the integers below that have the same sign.

- Step 1: Find the absolute values of negative 10 and negative 3.

- Step 2: Find the sum of their absolute values.

- Step 3: Keep the same sign which is negative.

Now here’s the little twist. We are now going to add integers that have different signs.
Case 2: Steps when Adding Integers with Different Signs
Step 1: Take the absolute value of each number.
Step 2: Subtract the number with a smaller absolute value from the number with bigger or larger absolute value.
Step 3: Copy the sign of the number with the bigger or larger absolute value.
Examples of Integer Additions with Unlike Signs
Example 1: Add the integers below that have different signs.

- Step 1: Take the absolute values of the numbers.

- Step 2: Since the absolute value of positive 7 is less than the absolute value of negative 15, subtract 7 from 15.

- Step 3: The absolute value of negative 15 is greater than the absolute value of positive 7. Therefore, the final answer will have a negative sign because we copy the sign the sign of the number that has a bigger absolute value.

Example 2: Add the integers below that have different signs.

- Step 1: Find the absolute value of each number.

- Step 2: Since the absolute value of negative 18 is less than the absolute value of positive 23, we will subtract 18 from 23.

- Step 3: The final answer will have a positive sign because we will get it from positive 23 which has a larger absolute value than negative 18.

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