Which of the following situations best completes the following statement:

Question

When subtracting an integer is the same as _____.

multiplying its opposite
adding its opposite
subtracting its opposite
dividing its opposite

Answer 1

When subtracting an integer is the same as adding its opposite.

For example, subtracting 3 can be represented as:

\[ -3 = +(-3) \]

So, for any integer \( a \):

\[ a - b = a + (-b) \]

This means that subtracting \( b \) is equivalent to adding the opposite of \( b \).