Question

What is the result of the following addition of integers?

-8 + (-13) = ?

A) -21
B) 5
C) 8
D) -5

Answer 1

The result of adding two negative integers, -8 and -13, is -21. This is done by adding their absolute values and preserving the negative sign, leading to -21 as the main answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks for the result of the addition of two negative integers, -8 + (-13).

When you are adding two negative numbers, you essentially add the absolute values of those numbers together and keep the negative sign. This rule falls in line with the concept that when two negative numbers add, the answer retains a negative sign, as per general integer addition rules. So for our specific problem, we calculate the sum as follows:

• Absolute value of first number: 8
• Absolute value of second number: 13
• Add these two absolute values: 8 + 13 = 21
• Since both original numbers were negative, the result is also negative: -21

Therefore, the main answer to the question -8 + (-13) is -21, which corresponds to option A.