To illustrate the idea of a number and its opposite, consider Luis' lunch account balance. His balance is –$10, which means he owes money to the cafeteria. The opposite of –$10 is +$10, which represents having that amount as a credit or balance in his account.
Here’s a situation that illustrates this concept:
- Luis has a debt of $10, which can be represented as –$10.
- If he were to earn or receive a gift of $10, his new balance would be +$10, illustrating the opposite of his initial debt.
In summary, –$10 (debt) and +$10 (credit) are two numbers that represent opposite financial situations.