Question

Add \(-9+3+(-4)\) A. 2 B. -2 C. -10 D. -16

Short answer

The correct answer is C: -10.

Step-by-step solution

Identify and Group Like Terms

Identify the numbers being added. In this exercise, the numbers are are -9, 3, and -4. Group them to simplify adding.

Add the First Two Numbers

Start with adding -9 and 3. The calculation goes as follows: -9 + 3 = -6.

Add the Result to the Last Number

Take the result from Step 2, which is -6, and add -4 to it. Perform the addition: -6 + (-4) = -10.

Choose the Correct Answer

The final result is -10. Therefore the correct answer is Option C: -10.

Key concepts

Negative Numbers

Negative numbers are numbers less than zero. They are represented with a minus sign (-) in front. In this exercise, -9 and -4 are both negative numbers. Understanding how to work with negative numbers is essential in many areas of math.

When we add negative numbers, we are essentially moving to the left on the number line. For example, if we already have a negative number like -6 and add another negative number like -4, we move further to the left. The result becomes more negative (i.e., -10 in this case).

Integer Addition

Adding integers involves combining both positive and negative whole numbers. The key to mastering integer addition is understanding how to handle these signs:

• When adding two positives, the result is positive (e.g., 3 + 2 = 5).
• When adding two negatives, the result is negative, and you add the absolute values (e.g., -3 + (-2) = -5).
• When adding a positive and a negative, the result's sign comes from the number with the larger absolute value, and you subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger one (e.g., -9 + 3 = -6 as -9 is larger in absolute value than 3).

Step-by-Step Problem Solving

Using a step-by-step approach can make complex problems more manageable. Let’s break down the given problem: -9 + 3 + (-4).

Step 1: Identify and Group Like Terms - We start by pinpointing the numbers involved (-9, 3, and -4).

Step 2: Add the First Two Numbers - We first add -9 and 3, giving us -6.

Step 3: Add the Result to the Last Number - We then take -6 and add -4, resulting in -10.

By following these steps, it becomes clear that the correct answer is -10, corresponding to option C.