Signed Number Chain
About this exercise
A run of additions and subtractions with signs, worked through step by step.
Example problems
A few of the problems this exercise asks. The printable worksheet holds ten fresh ones.
- -4 − 1 − 4 + 12 − 2 + 1 =
- -1 − 11 − 11 + 10 − 5 =
- 0 − 11 − 7 + 10 − 1 =
- 0 − 5 + 1 + 8 + 8 =
Try it yourself first — open a section below only if you get stuck.
How to solve it
Take one operation at a time and write down the running total. Simplify any double signs before you use them.
Worked example
5 - 8 gives -3, and -3 + 2 gives -1.
Common mistake
Trying to hold the whole chain in your head. Writing the running total after each step prevents most errors.