# Adding and subtracting to a variable in js In [[JavaScript|js]], this is the traditional way of adding a value to a variable: ```js let total = 0; let new = 1; total = total + new; ``` However, to simplify the last line, you can also just do this: ```js let total = 0; let new = 1; total += new; ``` In this way, `total = total + new` is shortened to `total += new`, but they mean the same thing. You can also do this with subtraction, such as `total -= new`.