Example

Adding 5+3-5 + 3 and 5+(3)5 + (-3) with Counters

When adding integers with different signs using the counter model, you pair off opposing counters until only one color remains. To evaluate 5+3-5 + 3, combine 5 red (negative) counters with 3 blue (positive) counters. Three neutral pairs form and are removed, leaving 2 red counters, making the answer 2-2. To evaluate 5+(3)5 + (-3), combine 5 blue counters with 3 red counters. Again, three neutral pairs cancel out, but this time 2 blue counters remain, making the answer 22. These examples illustrate that the final sum carries the sign of the group that had more counters initially.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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