title: How to force JS to do math instead of putting two strings together
body: <p>I need javascript to add 5 to an integer variable, but instead it treats the variable as a string, so it write out the variable, then add 5 onto the end of the "string". How can I force it to do math instead?</p>
  
  <pre><code>var dots = document.getElementById("txt").value; // 5
  function increase(){
      dots = dots + 5;
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Output: <code>55</code></p>
  
  <p>How can I force it to output <code>10</code>?</p>