Question

How can the additive inverse be used to evaluate the problem below?

Negative 3 minus (negative 6)
Because 3 + (negative 6) is an equivalent expression, the answer is –3.
Because 3 + (negative 6) is an equivalent expression, the answer is 3.
Because Negative 3 + 6 is an equivalent expression, the answer is –3.
Because Negative 3 + 6 is an equivalent expression, the answer is 3.

Answer 1

Correct choice: "Because Negative 3 + 6 is an equivalent expression, the answer is 3."

Reason: a − b = a + (−b). Here a = −3 and b = −6, so
−3 − (−6) = −3 + 6 = 3.
The additive inverse of −6 is 6, so subtracting −6 is the same as adding 6.