Question

Subtracting a negative number is the same as a subtracting the opposite of the number B adding the opposite of the number c adding the same number

Answer 1

The statement about subtracting a negative number can be clarified using mathematical principles. Let's break it down:

1. **Subtracting a negative number**: When you subtract a negative number, it is equivalent to adding the positive of that number. For example:
\[
a - (-b) = a + b
\]

This means that instead of subtracting \(-b\), you add \(b\).

2. **Opposite of the number**: The opposite of a number \(b\) is \(-b\). So, adding the opposite of \(b\) would mean:
\[
a + (-b)
\]
But this is not the same as subtracting a negative.

3. **Adding the same number**: Adding the same number \(b\) to \(a\) would simply be:
\[
a + b
\]

So, the correct interpretation is that subtracting a negative number is equivalent to **adding the same positive number**, not the opposite. Therefore:

- Subtracting a negative number \( (-b) \) results in adding the positive number \( b \).
- The phrase "subtracting the opposite of the number" is ambiguous, but generally, it would mean adding the same number.

In conclusion, subtracting a negative number is the same as **adding the positive number**.