High School Placement Test (HSPT) Practice Test

What is the result of -32 + 7?

1. -25

2. -5

3. 25

4. 39

The correct answer is: -25

To find the result of -32 + 7, you start with the value of -32 and then add 7 to it. When adding a positive number (7) to a negative number (-32), you can think of this as moving towards zero. Since -32 is further away from zero than 7 is, you would be decreasing the negative value. Calculating it step by step: 1. Starting at -32, when you add 7, you can visualize this as moving up 7 units on the number line. 2. You would first increase -32 by 7: -32 + 7 = -25. This movement results in -25, which is indeed the correct answer. Moving from a negative number toward zero confirms that adding a smaller positive number to a larger negative number yields a result that is also negative, but closer to zero than the original. Thus, -25 is the outcome of the calculation.