How do you add two signed integers together?

Adding two signed integers involves considering their signs. Here's how to do it:

Cases Based on Signs

There are two main cases to consider:

Both integers have the same sign:
- Add their absolute values (i.e., treat them as if they were both positive).
- Keep the common sign.
Example:
- (+5) + (+3) = +8 (Both positive, add 5 and 3, keep the positive sign)
- (-5) + (-3) = -8 (Both negative, add 5 and 3, keep the negative sign)
The integers have different signs:
- Subtract the smaller absolute value from the larger absolute value.
- Use the sign of the integer with the larger absolute value in the result.
Example:
- (+5) + (-3) = +2 (5 > 3, subtract 3 from 5, keep the positive sign because 5 is positive)
- (-5) + (+3) = -2 (5 > 3, subtract 3 from 5, keep the negative sign because 5 is negative)

Integer 1 Sign	Integer 2 Sign	Operation	Result Sign	Example
Positive	Positive	Add absolute values	Positive	(+4) + (+2) = +6
Negative	Negative	Add absolute values	Negative	(-4) + (-2) = -6
Positive	Negative	Subtract abs. values	Sign of larger	(+4) + (-2) = +2
Negative	Positive	Subtract abs. values	Sign of larger	(-4) + (+2) = -2

In essence, you are either adding "more of the same" (same sign) or "balancing out" (different signs) with the sign of the larger force winning.