Question

In a game where you can earn positive and negative points, you made these points on the first 5 plays: +10, -42, +39, -25, -5. What is your current number of points in the game?

Answer 1

Add these numbers up, you can add them in any order. \(+10-42+39-25-5=+10-42+39-30=\)
\(10-42+9=19-42=-32\)

Answer 2

So, here you are looking at just a bunch of adding and subtracting.
It might be overwhelming to have 5 numbers but you can just take them one problem at a time and it really isn't too difficult.

If you are struggling with adding and subtracting negative numbers, a really good way to get used to the idea is using a number line like the one I posted on your other question. anytime you add a number, move to the right that many times, any time you subtract a number move to the left that many times, hopefully that will help you visualize

so the first step is:
10-42

since 42 is a larger number than 10, this answer is going to be a negative number. I find the the best way to approach a situation like this is to subtract 10 from 42 giving you 32 and then making it negative. so, 10-42=-32.

now we add that number to the next number so we have:
-32+39 which can be rewritten as
39-32
and 39-32=7

now, we need to subtract 25
so:

7-25=-18

now we need to subtract 5
-18-5

Looking at a number line, when you move left 5 spaces from -18 you end up on -23

so, your final answer is:

-23