Homework Help: adding a negative and positive

I just started 8th Grade so our class got to Algebra 1. I need help with my homework!

There are a couple of 7th Grade Facts that I've forgotten about: Here's one- How to adding with one negative and positive.

Example of a problem that I am having trouble with and involves adding a negative and positive: 5/8+(-3/8)

It might seem easy to me and it would be easy if I HAVE NOT forgotten!

Whenever you have a case like: 5/8+(-3/8) you just ignore the additions sign. If you have a positive sign in front of a negative sign you just ignore it and mark it out. So this turns into:

\(\displaystyle \L \;\frac{5}{8}\,-\,\frac{3}{8}\,=\,\frac{1}{4}\)

You can prove my rule yourself:

3 + (-2) = 1

3 - 2 = 1