Understanding the Additive Inverse in Mathematics: Explained with Examples

Additive Inverse

In mathematics, the additive inverse of a number is a number that, when added to the original number, yields a sum of zero

In mathematics, the additive inverse of a number is a number that, when added to the original number, yields a sum of zero.

For any real number a, the additive inverse is denoted as -a. So, if we have a number, let’s say 5, the additive inverse would be -5.

To visualize this, imagine a number line. If you start at 0 and move 5 units to the right, you’ll end up at 5. Now, if you move 5 units to the left (in the opposite direction), you will end up at -5. So, 5 and -5 are additive inverses of each other.

The property of additive inverses states that when you add a number to its additive inverse, the result is always zero. For example, if we add 5 and -5 together, we get 0:

5 + (-5) = 0

This property holds true for all real numbers. So, the additive inverse of any number x would be -x.

In summary, the additive inverse of a number x is the number that, when added to x, gives a sum of zero. It is denoted as -x, and for any real number x, the sum of x and its additive inverse is always zero.

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