Homework for Thursday, Dec. 5

Assignment: Adding and Regrouping ws (the title is a printable copy)
Today is the first time for many of you that you will be thinking about negative integers in the format of an equation.  Do not let it daunt you!  They are still just yellow and blue cowboys represented as a number in this case.  Who wins?  Who is left at the end of the battle?  Same thing ...
Be sure to follow the directions on the worksheet.  
(note! the original problem in the example says "18," which magically transforms into "11" on the next line.  I'm sure it was the doing of evil elves, but in any case just pretend like the original problem in the example reads:  Example: -9 + 30 + (-11) + 25 =  , so you are regrouping the -11, not -18 with the -9.) 
*The first step is to rewrite the equation as an addition problem in groupings.  In mathematical words, commute and associate.  This regrouping helps you to think about who is ahead in this battle.
*The second step is to solve within the groups.  Combine all of the positive values in one bracket and the negative values in the other.  Now, will your ending value be positive or negative?
*Now solve the problem in whatever way suits you.  Just remember that you will need to look back at step 2 in order to keep track of whether the answer will be positive or negative.  No "forgetting!"
*Finally write your answer, making it CLEAR as to whether you believe the answer is positive or negative.  Half-erased negative signs are no better than half-erased decimals ... I will always guess wrong!
This is DUE on Friday during Study Skills.