To analyze the expression \( p + (-q) \):
- Since \( q \) is a positive number, \( -q \) is a negative number.
- The expression \( p + (-q) \) can be rewritten as \( p - q \).
Now, let's consider the implications of this expression:
- If \( p > q \), then \( p - q \) is positive.
- If \( p < q \), then \( p - q \) is negative.
- If \( p = q \), then \( p - q = 0\).
The interpretation regarding “distances” involves understanding how the value of \( p - q \) relates to the number line:
- If we think of \( p \) as a point on the number line representing the positive quantity \( p \) and \( -q \) as moving in the negative direction by \( q \), then \( p + (-q) = p - q \) results in a value that is located at a distance of \( |q| \) from \( p \) in the negative direction when \( p < q \).
Considering your choices, the appropriate description among them would be:
"The sum \( p + (-q) \) is the number located a distance \( |q| \) from \( p \) in the negative direction."
So the right response is that one.