When we add a negative number to a positive number, the overall result depends on the absolute values of the two numbers.
For example, if you have the equation -3 + 5, you can think of it as removing 3 from 5. Since 5 is greater than 3, the result will be positive. In this case, -3 + 5 equals 2.
However, if the absolute value of the negative number is greater than that of the positive number, the result will be negative. For instance, -7 + 4 gives us -3, because you are taking away 7 from 4.
In summary, the result of adding a negative and a positive number will always be the difference between their absolute values, with the sign of the result determined by the larger absolute value. If the positive number is larger, the result is positive; if the negative number is larger, the result is negative.