Question
Describe subtraction of rational numbers as adding
the additive inverse, p - q = p +(-q).
Use the additive inverse to find -492.89-(-871.78).
Answer: 378.89
Describe this as a 7th Grader Simplified a lot so it can easily fit in a small text box
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Subtraction of rational numbers can be thought of as adding the opposite (or additive inverse). For example, when you subtract \( q \) from \( p \) (written as \( p - q \)), you can change it to addition by using the opposite of \( q \) (which is \(-q\)). So, \( p - q = p + (-q) \).
Now, let's use this idea to solve \(-492.89 - (-871.78)\):
1. First, identify the additive inverse of \(-871.78\). The inverse is \(+871.78\).
2. Now rewrite the subtraction: \(-492.89 - (-871.78)\) becomes \(-492.89 + 871.78\).
3. Now, we just add:
\(-492.89 + 871.78\) equals \(378.89\).
So the answer is \(378.89\).
Now, let's use this idea to solve \(-492.89 - (-871.78)\):
1. First, identify the additive inverse of \(-871.78\). The inverse is \(+871.78\).
2. Now rewrite the subtraction: \(-492.89 - (-871.78)\) becomes \(-492.89 + 871.78\).
3. Now, we just add:
\(-492.89 + 871.78\) equals \(378.89\).
So the answer is \(378.89\).