When combining a positive and a negative number, what determines the result?

In the context of combining a positive and a negative number, the result is primarily determined by the larger number and its sign. When you add a positive number to a negative number, you are effectively finding the difference between the two, but the sign of the larger absolute value will dictate the overall result.

For example, if you add +5 (a positive number) and -3 (a negative number), the larger of the two numbers in terms of absolute value is 5. Since it’s positive, the result will be positive. Conversely, if you add +3 and -5, the larger absolute value is now 5, which is negative, so the result will be negative (-2).

This principle is crucial in understanding how addition of integers works since it highlights the importance of absolute values and their corresponding signs to derive the correct final outcome.