I was wondering does the rule - a plus and minus equals a minus - mean/hold the same for an expression such as -2 + 6 and 2 + (-6) and why is it so..

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking, but I'll give it a shot; it's not "a plus and a minus give a minus", it's "plus times a minus gives a minus". Since you're adding two numbers and not multiplying them, it doesn't hold.

Edited February 10, 201114 yr by Shadow

ok, but i was more so asking if the same rule holds for working out both of the expressions i have.. and if so, what is it and how does it work?

Well your two expressions aren't equal. -2 + 6 = 4. Whereas 2 + (-6) = 2 - 6 = -4.

 

the + (-6) is because you are adding a negative 6.

ok