Book 1A Chapter 2

(page 2.23 - 2.32)

Addition and Subtraction

of Directed Numbers
by Removing Brackets
How do you calculate
(–60) – (+96) and (+1.5) + (–0.1)?

It is difficult to draw the

number lines.

Can we simplify the calculation?

Consider (–1) + (+2) and (–1) – (–2).
+(+2) –(–
2)
–2 –1 0 +1 +2 –2 –1 0 +1 +2

We see that both expressions give the same result,

so (–1) + (+2) = (–1) – (–2)

In other words, –1 + 2

+ (+2) = – (–2) = + 2
Consider (–1) + (–2) and (–1) – (+2).
+(–2) –(+2)

–4 –3 –2 –1 0 –4 –3 –2 –1 0

We see that both expressions give the same result,

so (–1) + (–2) = (–1) – (+2)

In other words, –1 – 2

+ (–2) = – (+2) = – 2
Rules of removing brackets:
For a number a, a positive number +b and
a negative number –b,
a + (+b) = a + b a – (–b) = a + b
a + (–b) = a – b a – (+b) = a – b
After removing all the brackets,
we can evaluate the sum or the
difference of directed numbers.

e.g. (–4) + (+6) = –4 + 6 = ?

(–7) + (–3) = –7 – 3 = ?
Let’s see how to handle
the calculations.
Calculation after removing brackets
10 – 6 4
Can you calculate
10 – 8 2
10 – 100?
10 – 10 0
10 – 12 –2
10 – 14 –4

Calculate 25 –
10 – 100 –90
75.
25 – 75 = –50
Calculation after removing brackets

–10 + 10 0
Can you calculate
–10 + 12 2 –10 + 100?
–10 + 14 4

–10 + 100 90

Calculate –8 + 21.
–8 + 21 = 13
Calculation after removing brackets

–10 + 10 0
Can you calculate
–10 + 8 –2 –10 + 2?
–10 + 6 –4

–10 + 2 –8

Calculate –40 +
15.= –25
–40 + 15
 Calculation after removing brackets

–10 – 0 –10 Can you calculate

–10 – 5 –15 –10 – 100?
–10 – 10 –20

–10 – 100 –110

Calculate –15 –
14.
–15 – 14 = –29
 Can you calculate (–12) + (+10) and
(–3) – (–17) by removing brackets?

(–12) + (+10)
= –12 + 10
= –2
(–3) – (–17)
= –3 + 17
= 14
 Can you calculate (–60) – (+96) and
(+15) + (–19) by removing brackets?

(–60) – (+96)
= –60 – 96
(+15) + (–19) = –156
= 15 – 19
= –4
Follow-up Question

Find the values of the following expressions by

removing brackets.
(a) (+4) – (+9) (b) (–13) + (–8)
(c) (–16) – (–24)

(a) (+4) – (+9) = 4 – 9

= –5

(b) (–13) + (–8) = –13 – 8

= –21
(c) (–16) – (–24) = –16 + 24
=8