What is the result of adding a large positive number and a smaller negative number?

What is the result of adding a large positive number and a smaller negative number?

• A. Results in a larger negative number
• B. Results in a smaller positive number
• C. Results in zero
• D. Results in a larger positive number

Answer: (B)

When you add a large positive number to a smaller negative number, the result is indeed a smaller positive number. This happens because the positive number has a greater magnitude than the negative number, so the overall sum moves into the positive range. For instance, if you were to add 10 (a large positive number) to -3 (a smaller negative number), you would calculate it as follows: 10 + (-3) = 10 - 3 = 7. The result, 7, is a smaller positive number. This outcome occurs because the effect of the negative number decreases the total amount of the positive number, but as long as the positive number is greater in magnitude, the overall sum remains positive, albeit smaller than the original positive number. Thus, this reinforces the idea that adding a larger positive number to a smaller negative number yields a smaller positive number.

When you add a large positive number to a smaller negative number, the result is indeed a smaller positive number. This happens because the positive number has a greater magnitude than the negative number, so the overall sum moves into the positive range.

For instance, if you were to add 10 (a large positive number) to -3 (a smaller negative number), you would calculate it as follows: 10 + (-3) = 10 - 3 = 7. The result, 7, is a smaller positive number.

This outcome occurs because the effect of the negative number decreases the total amount of the positive number, but as long as the positive number is greater in magnitude, the overall sum remains positive, albeit smaller than the original positive number. Thus, this reinforces the idea that adding a larger positive number to a smaller negative number yields a smaller positive number.