Binding Energy

[xenogizmo]

Hey Everyone,
This is a quick question.. is binding energy positive or negative? I'm pretty confused now, because in some places the definition was:

The energy released when the nucleus of an atom is formed by combining neutrons and protons.

And in other places:

the energy required to decompose a nucleus into its component nucleons

Dont they both imply different signs? Please clarify..
Thank you..
A.Z.H

[James R]

Binding energies are taken as positive, so use either definition and ignore negative signs.