IXL | Add and subtract integers: word problems

Read this word problem.

The temperature on February 2 in Lake City was

The temperature in Ellenville the same day was

–

How much warmer was it in Lake City than in Ellenville?

To solve the problem, Gabby subtracted

–

(

–

)

and came up with an answer of

Is Gabby correct? Why or why not?

Yes, Gabby is correct.

No. The answer should have been

not

because subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its opposite.

No. Gabby should have added

–

because the temperature in Lake City was warmer.

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Read this word problem.

The temperature on February 2 in Lake City was

The temperature in Ellenville the same day was

–

How much warmer was it in Lake City than in Ellenville?

To solve the problem, Gabby subtracted

–

(

–

)

and came up with an answer of

Is Gabby correct? Why or why not?

Yes, Gabby is correct.

No. The answer should have been

not

because subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its opposite.

No. Gabby should have added

–

because the temperature in Lake City was warmer.

key idea

To add two numbers with the same

sign,

add the absolute values of the numbers. Keep their sign. For example,

–

(

–

)

–

To add two numbers with different

signs,

subtract the absolute values of the numbers. Keep the sign of the number with the larger absolute value. For example,

–

Subtracting a number is the same as adding its opposite. For example,

–

(

–

)

–

solution

To see if Gabby is correct, start by listing the information she was given in the problem.

The temperature in Lake City was
14
°
F
.
The temperature in Ellenville was
–
6
°
F
.

Now write an expression that represents the situation. Gabby needs to find the difference in the temperatures, so she was right to subtract.

14	−	( – 6 )	=	?

Lake City temperature		Ellenville temperature		difference in temperatures

Subtract. You can start by rewriting the expression with addition.

–

(

–

)

So, the temperature in Lake City was

warmer than the temperature in Ellenville.

Gabby is

incorrect.

The answer is

not

because subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its opposite.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Adding and subtracting integers

$Confetti$

Excellent!

Now entering the Challenge Zone—are you ready?

Teacher tools

Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

A.4Add and subtract integers

A.1Understanding integers

Lesson: Adding and subtracting integers

Excellent! You got that right!

Jumping to level 1 of 1

Excellent!