To analyze the expression \( p + (-q) \), we can rewrite it as \( p - q \). Since \( p \) and \( q \) are both positive numbers, \( -q \) represents a negative value (specifically, it is the same as moving \( q \) units to the left of zero on the number line).
Thus, \( p - q \) indicates we start at \( p \) and subtract \( q \) from it, moving \( q \) units in the negative direction.
Given this reasoning, the correct description of the sum \( p + (-q) \) is:
The sum \( p + (-q) \) is the number located a distance \( |q| \) from \( p \) in the negative direction.
This matches with the first response option.