Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Basic Math Placement Practice Test

What does it indicate when adding negative numbers?

1. The result is always positive

2. The result can be either positive or negative

3. The result is negative

4. The result is zero

The correct answer is: The result is negative

When adding negative numbers, the result is indeed negative. This is because negative numbers represent values less than zero. When you add two negative numbers together, you are essentially combining losses or deficits, which yields a result that is further into the negative. For example, if you add -3 and -5, you are combining those losses: -3 + (-5) = -8, which is certainly negative. This pattern holds true regardless of the specific values of the negative numbers being added; the sum will always continue to be less than zero, strengthening the concept that the operation of adding negatives results in an increased negative value. In contrast, when combining positive and negative numbers, the overall result can vary widely based on the relative magnitudes of the numbers involved.