2 + (-11) + 14 + (-7)
Add the first two, 2 + (-11). The signs are different, so
you subtract 11-2 and get 9, then since 11 is larger and it has
a - sign, you put a negative sign onto 9, and get -9. So you
replace the 2 + (-11) by -9. That is,
2 + (-11) + 14 + (-7) becomes
-9 + 14 + (-7)
Next add the first two, -9 + 14. The signs are different, so
you subtract 14-9 and get 5, then since 14 is larger and it has
a + sign, you put a positive sign onto 5, and get +5. But then
you can just leave the + sign understood. So you replace the
-9 + 14 by 5. That is,
-9 + 14 + (-7) becomes
5 + (-7)
Finally add the 5 + (-7). The signs are different, so
you subtract 7-5 and get 2, then since 7 is larger and it has
a - sign, you put a negative sign onto 2, and get -2. So the
answer is
-2
Edwin
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