GED Math Practice Test

When adding numbers with the same signs, what should you do?

1. Add the numbers and label with the sign

2. Subtract the numbers first

3. Change the signs of both numbers

4. Line the numbers vertically

The correct answer is: Add the numbers and label with the sign

When adding numbers that have the same sign, you should add the absolute values of the numbers together and then keep the common sign. This is why the first choice is the correct answer: by adding the numbers and labeling the result with the corresponding sign (positive or negative), you accurately represent the sum. For example, if you are adding two positive numbers like 3 and 5, you add them to get 8 and keep the positive sign, indicating the result is positive. Similarly, if you add two negative numbers, like -4 and -6, you would add their absolute values (4 + 6 = 10) and keep the negative sign, resulting in -10. This method ensures that you maintain the correct value of the sum based on the signs of the numbers you're working with.