1.

3 Addition and Subtraction of Real Numbers (1-19) 19

1.3 ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION

OF REAL NUMBERS
In arithmetic we add and subtract only positive numbers and zero. In Section 1.1 we
In this introduced the concept of absolute value of a number. Now we will use absolute
section value to extend the operations of addition and subtraction to the real numbers. We
will work only with rational numbers in this chapter. You will learn to perform
● Addition of Two Negative operations with irrational numbers in Chapter 8.
Numbers
● Addition of Numbers with Addition of Two Negative Numbers
Unlike Signs
● Subtraction of Signed A good way to understand positive and negative numbers is to think of the positive
Numbers numbers as assets and the negative numbers as debts. For this illustration we can
think of assets simply as cash. For example, if you have $3 and $5 in cash, then your
total cash is $8. You get the total by adding two positive numbers.
Think of debts as unpaid bills such as the electric bill or the phone bill. If you
have debts of $7 and $8, then your total debt is $15. You can get the total debt by
adding negative numbers:

(7)  (8)  15

↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
$7 debt plus $8 debt $15 debt

We think of this addition as adding the absolute values of 7 and 8 (7  8  15),

and then putting a negative sign on that result to get 15. These examples illustrate
the following rule.

Sum of Two Numbers with Like Signs

To find the sum of two numbers with the same sign, add their absolute values.
The sum has the same sign as the given numbers.

E X A M P L E 1 Adding numbers with like signs

Perform the indicated operations.
   
1 1
a) 23  56 b) (12)  (9) c) (3.5)  (6.28) d)     
2 4
Solution
study tip a) The sum of two positive numbers is a positive number: 23  56  79.
Exchange phone numbers,
b) The absolute values of 12 and 9 are 12 and 9, and 12  9  21. So
cellular phone numbers,
(12)  (9)  21.
pager numbers, and e-mail
addresses with several stu-
c) Add the absolute values of 3.5 and 6.28, and put a negative sign on the sum.
dents in your class. If you miss
Remember to line up the decimal points when adding decimal numbers:
class and you can’t reach your
instructor, then you will have
3.50
someone who can tell you the
6.28
assignments. If you are stuck
on a problem, you can con-
9.78
tact a classmate for help.
So (3.5)  (6.28)  9.78.
20 (1-20) Chapter 1 Real Numbers and Their Properties

2  4  4  4  4

1 1 2 1 3
d)
■

Addition of Numbers with Unlike Signs

If you have a debt of $5 and have only $5 in cash, then your debts equal your assets
(in absolute value), and your net worth is $0. Net worth is the total of debts and as-
sets. Symbolically,

5  5  0.
↑ ↑ ↑
$5 debt $5 cash Net worth

For any number a, a and its opposite, a, have a sum of zero. For this rea-
son, a and a are called additive inverses of each other. Note that the words
“negative,” “opposite,” and “additive inverse” are often used interchangeably.

Additive Inverse Property

For any number a,
a  (a)  0 and (a)  a  0.

E X A M P L E 2 Finding the sum of additive inverses

Evaluate.
1 1
a) 34  (34) b)    c) 2.97  (2.97)
4 4
Solution
1 1
a) 34  (34)  0 b)     0
4 4
c) 2.97  (2.97)  0 ■

To understand the sum of a positive and a negative number that are not additive
inverses of each other, consider the following situation. If you have a debt of $6
and $10 in cash, you may have $10 in hand, but your net worth is only $4. Your
assets exceed your debts (in absolute value), and you have a positive net worth. In
symbols,
6  10  4.
helpful hint
Note that to get 4, we actually subtract 6 from 10.
We use the illustrations with
If you have a debt of $7 but have only $5 in cash, then your debts exceed your
debts and assets to make the
rules for adding signed num-
assets (in absolute value). You have a negative net worth of $2. In symbols,
ber understandable. However, 7  5  2.
in the end the carefully written
rules tell us exactly how to per- Note that to get the 2 in the answer, we subtract 5 from 7.
form operations with signed As you can see from these examples, the sum of a positive number and a nega-
numbers, and we must obey tive number (with different absolute values) may be either positive or negative.
the rules. These examples help us to understand the rule for adding numbers with unlike signs
and different absolute values.
 1.3 Addition and Subtraction of Real Numbers (1-21) 21

Sum of Two Numbers with Unlike Signs (and Different

Absolute Values)
To find the sum of two numbers with unlike signs (and different absolute
values), subtract their absolute values.
• The answer is positive if the number with the larger absolute value is
positive.
• The answer is negative if the number with the larger absolute value is
negative.

E X A M P L E 3 Adding numbers with unlike signs

Evaluate.
a) 5  13 b) 6  (7) c) 6.4  2.1

    
1 1 3 5
d) 5  0.09 e)    f)   
3 2 8 6
Solution
a) The absolute values of 5 and 13 are 5 and 13. Subtract them to get 8. Since
calculator the number with the larger absolute value is 13 and it is positive, the result is
positive:
5  13  8
close-up b) The absolute values of 6 and 7 are 6 and 7. Subtract them to get 1. Since 7
Your calculator can add has the larger absolute value, the result is negative:
signed numbers. Most calcu-
6  (7)  1
lators have a key for subtrac-
tion and a different key for the c) Line up the decimal points and subtract 2.1 from 6.4.
negative sign.
6.4
2.1
4.3
Since 6.4 is larger than 2.1, and 6.4 has a negative sign, the sign of the answer
is negative. So 6.4  2.1  4.3.
d) Line up the decimal points and subtract 0.09 from 5.00.
5.00
You should do the exercises in
0.09
this section by hand and then
4.91
check with a calculator.
Since 5.00 is larger than 0.09, and 5.00 has the negative sign, the sign of the
answer is negative. So 5  0.09  4.91.

         
1 1 2 3 3 5 9 20
e)        f)       
3 2 6 6 8 6 24 24
1 11
   
6 24 ■
Subtraction of Signed Numbers
Each subtraction problem with signed numbers is solved by doing an equivalent
addition problem. So before attempting subtraction of signed numbers be sure that
you understand addition of signed numbers.
22 (1-22) Chapter 1 Real Numbers and Their Properties

study tip Now think of subtraction as removing debts or assets, and think of addition as
receiving debts or assets. If you have $10 in cash and $3 is taken from you, your
The keys to success are desire resulting net worth is the same as if you have $10 cash and a phone bill for $3
and discipline. You must want arrives in the mail. In symbols,
success and you must disci-
pline yourself to do what it 10  3  10  (3).
takes to get success. There are ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Remove Cash Receive Debt
a lot of things that you can’t
do anything about, but you Removing cash is equivalent to receiving a debt.
can learn to be disciplined. Set
Suppose you have $15 but owe a friend $5. Your net worth is only $10. If the
your goals, make plans, and
debt of $5 is canceled or forgiven, your net worth will go up to $15, the same as if
schedule your time. Before
you know it you will have the
you received $5 in cash. In symbols,
discipline that is necessary for 10  (5)  10  5.
success.
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Remove Debt Receive Cash

Removing a debt is equivalent to receiving cash.

Notice that each subtraction problem is equivalent to an addition problem in
which we add the opposite of what we want to subtract. In other words, subtracting
a number is the same as adding its opposite.

Subtraction of Real Numbers

For any real numbers a and b,
a  b  a  (b).

E X A M P L E 4 Subtracting signed numbers

Perform each subtraction.
a) 5  3 b) 5  (3)

 
1 1
c) 5  (3) d)   
2 4
e) 3.6  (5) f) 0.02  8

Solution
To do any subtraction, we can change it to addition of the opposite.
a) 5  3  5  (3)  8
b) 5  (3)  5  (3)  8
c) 5  (3)  5  3  2

 
1 1 2 1 3
d)         
2 4 4 4 4
e) 3.6  (5)  3.6  5  1.4
f) 0.02  8  0.02  (8)  7.98 ■
 1.3 Addition and Subtraction of Real Numbers (1-23) 23

WARM-UPS
True or false? Explain your answer.
1. 9  8  1 True
2. (2)  (4)  6 True
3. 0  7  7 True
4. 5  (2)  3 False
5. 5  (2)  7 False
6. The additive inverse of 3 is 0. False
7. If b is a negative number, then b is a positive number. True
8. The sum of a positive number and a negative number is a negative number.
False
9. The result of a subtracted from b is the same as b plus the opposite of a.
True
10. If a and b are negative numbers, then a  b is a negative number. False

1. 3 EXERCISES
Reading and Writing After reading this section write out the Evaluate. See Examples 2 and 3.
answers to these questions. Use complete sentences. 15. 8  8 0 16. 20 (20) 0
1. What operations did we study in this section?
 
17 17 12 12
We studied addition and subtraction of signed numbers. 17.    0 18.    0
50 50 13 13
2. How do you find the sum of two numbers with the same
19. 7  9 2 20. 10  (30) 20
sign?
The sum of two numbers with the same sign is found by 21. 7  (13) 6 22. 8  20 12
adding their absolute values. The sum is negative if the two 23. 8.6  (3) 5.6 24. 9.5  12 2.5
numbers are negative. 25. 3.9  (6.8) 2.9 26. 5.24  8.19 2.95

 
3. When can we say that two numbers are additive inverses of 1 1 1 2 4
27.     28.   2 
each other? 4 2 4 3 3
Two numbers are additive inverses of each other if their Fill in the parentheses to make each statement correct. See
sum is zero. Example 4.
4. What is the sum of two numbers with opposite signs and 29. 8  2  8  (?) 8  (2)
the same absolute value? 30. 3.5  1.2  3.5  (?) 3.5  (1.2)
The sum of two numbers with opposite signs and the same
31. 4  12  4  (?) 4  (12)
absolute value is zero.
 
1 5 1 1 5
5. How do we find the sum of two numbers with unlike signs? 32.       (?)   
To find the sum of two numbers with unlike signs, subtract 2 6 2 2 6
their absolute values. The answer is given the sign of the 33. 3  (8)  3  (?) 3  8
number with the larger absolute value. 34. 9  (2.3)  9  (?) 9  (2.3)
6. What is the relationship between subtraction and addition? 35. 8.3  (1.5)  8.3  (?) 8.3  (1.5)
Subtraction is defined in terms of addition as a  b  36. 10  (6)  10  (?) 10  (6)
a  (b). Perform the indicated operation. See Example 4.
Perform the indicated operation. See Example 1. 37. 6  10 4 38. 3  19 16 39. 3  7 10
7. 3  10 13 8. 81  19 100 40. 3  12 15 41. 5  (6) 11 42. 5  (9) 14
9. (3)  (10) 13 10. (81)  (19) 100 1 1 1
11. 0.25  (0.9) 1.15 12. 0.8  (2.35) 3.15 43. 6  5 11 44. 3  6 9 45.    
4 2 4

   
1 1 1 2 1 3
   
13.     14.     2 2 4 1 1 3 2 1 5
3 6 2 3 12 4 46.     47.     48.    
5 3 15 2 4 4 3 6 6
24 (1-24) Chapter 1 Real Numbers and Their Properties

49. 10  3 50. 13  3 51. 1  0.07 94. Net worth. Melanie has a $125,000 house with a $78,422
7 10 0.93 mortgage. She has $21,236 in a savings account and has
52. 0.03  1 53. 7.3  (2) 54. 5.1  0.15 $9,477 in credit card debt. She owes $6,131 to the credit
0.97 9.3 5.25 union and figures that her cars and other household items
55. 0.03  5 5.03 56. 0.7  (0.3) 1 are worth a total of $15,000. What is Melanie’s net worth?
$67,206
Perform the indicated operations. Do not use a calculator.
95. Falling temperatures. At noon the temperature in Mon-
57. 5  8 3 58. 6  10 4 treal was 5°C. By midnight the mercury had fallen 12°.
59. 6  (3) 9 60. (13)  (12) 25 What was the temperature at midnight? 7°C
61. 80  40 120 62. 44  (15) 59 96. Bitter cold. The overnight low temperature in Milwaukee
63. 61  (17) 78 64. 19  13 32 was 13°F for Monday night. The temperature went up
65. (12)  (15) 27 66. 12  12 0 20° during the day on Tuesday and then fell 15° to reach
Tuesday night’s overnight low temperature.
67. 13  (20) 7 68. 15  (39) 24
a) What was the overnight low Tuesday night? 8°F
69. 102  99 201 70. 94  (77) 17 b) Judging from the accompanying graph, was the average
71. 161  161 322 72. 19  88 107 low for the week above or below 0°F? Below zero
73. 16  0.03 15.97 74. 0.59  (3.4) 2.81
10
75. 0.08  3 2.92 76. 1.8  9 7.2

Temperature (degrees F)
77. 3.7  (0.03) 3.73 78. 0.9  (1) 0.1
0
79. 2.3  (6) 3.7 80. 7.08  (9) 1.92 M T W T F S S

 
3 3 3 1 3 4
81.     82.     10
4 5 20 3 5 15

83.     
1 3 7 1 1
 84.    0 20
12 8 24 17 17 Overnight lows for week
of January 10
Use a calculator to perform the indicated operations. FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 96
85. 45.87  (49.36) 86. 0.357  (3.465) GET TING MORE INVOLVED
3.49 3.822
87. 0.6578  (1) 88. 2.347  (3.5) 97. Writing. What does absolute value have to do with adding
0.3422 5.847 signed numbers? Can you add signed numbers without
89. 3.45  45.39 48.84 90. 9.8  9.974 0.174 using absolute value?
When adding signed numbers, we add or subtract only pos-
91. 5.79  3.06 8.85 92. 0  (4.537) 4.537
itive numbers which are the absolute values of the original
Solve each problem. numbers. We then determine the appropriate sign for the
93. Overdrawn. Willard opened his checking account with a answer.
deposit of $97.86. He then wrote checks and had other 98. Discussion. Why do we learn addition of signed numbers
charges as shown in his account register. Find his current before subtraction?
balance. $8.85 Subtraction is defined as addition of the opposite,
a  b  a  (b).
Deposit 97.86
99. Discussion. Aimee and Joni are traveling south in separate
Wal-Mart 27.89 cars on Interstate 5 near Stockton. While they are speaking
Kmart 42.32 to each other on cellular telephones, Aimee gives her loca-
ATM cash 25.00 tion as mile marker x and Joni gives her location as mile
marker y. Which of the following expressions gives the
Service charge 3.50
distance between them? Explain your answer.
Check printing 8.00 a) y  x b) x  y c)  x  y 
d)  y  x  e)  x    y 
FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 93
The distance between x and y is given by either  x  y  or
 y  x .