Simplify negative integers to indicate absolute value if asked to do so. To find the absolute value of a negative integer, simply take away the minus sign. The absolute value of any integer is its distance from zero. Therefore, for example, the absolute value of -3 is 3. This is written as I -3 I = 3.
Add two negative integers by adding the numbers and keeping the negative sign. For example, -2 + -5 = -7.
Add a negative to a positive integer by subtracting the smaller number from the larger one and taking the sign of the larger number. For example, -10 + 7 = -3 and 10 + -7 = 3.
Subtract a negative integer by changing its sign and adding it to the first integer in the subtraction sentence. For example, -6 - -3 would become -6 + 3, which equals -3.
Multiply two negative integers by multiplying the numbers and taking away the negative sign. Multiply a negative times a positive integer by multiplying the numbers and keeping the negative sign. The same is true for division: two negatives make a positive, and one negative and one positive make a negative answer.