| Rules for Addition | Examples |
| If a and b are both positive, then a + b = |a| + |b| | 3 + 7 = 10 |
| If a and b are both negative, then a + b = -(|a| + |b|) | -6 + (-2) = -(6 + 2) = -8 |
| If a is positive and b is negative and a has the greater absolute value, then a + b = |a| - |b| | 8 + (-5) = 8 - 5 = 3 |
| If a is positive and b is negative and b has the greater absolute value, then a + b = -(|b| - |a|) | 4 + (-9) = -(9 - 4) = -5 |
| If a and b are opposites, then a + b = 0 | 2 + (-2) = 0 |