FAQ

FAQ Q. How do I know what sign to use when adding positive and negative numbers?

A. Use the sign of the number with the greatest absolute value

Q. How do I use the cubes to solve an addition problem?

​A. Assign each color as either Positive (+) or negative (-). For example, red=negative and blue=positive. If you are solving the problem 8+(-3).

You would lay out 8 positives or 8 blue cubes, you would then add 3 negatives or 3 red cubes. Partner the opposite colors together and see what is left. You would have 5 blue cubes left so your answer would be a +5. See the youtube video for a video demonstration: media type="youtube" key="7IQpDcKYTcs" height="315" width="420"

Q. Can I use the triangle to determine the sign of my answer?

A. ​No. The triangle method is only used for Multiplying or Dividing.

Q. What is absolute Value?

A. ​Absolute value is the distance the number is from zero. For example; the absolute value of -7 is 7 because -7 is 7 away from 0.

Q. What is an integer?

A. Positive integers are all the whole numbers greater than zero: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... n. Negative integers are all the opposites of these whole numbers: -1, -2, -3, -4, -5, ... n.