Question

Which of the following choices are equal to (-5) - (-12)? 1) -7 2) 7 3) The difference between -5 and -12 4) The difference between -12 and -5 5) (-5) + 12 6) (-5) + (-12)

Answer 1

The correct choices for (-5) - (-12) are options 2) 7 and option 5) (-5) + 12, as subtracting a negative number in mathematics simplifies to adding a positive number. Thus, (-5) - (-12) simplifies to -5 + 12 = 7.

Step-by-step explanation:

The given expression (-5) - (-12) can be thought of as subtracting a negative number. In mathematics, subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding a positive number.

Therefore, the expression simplifies as follows:

(-5) - (-12) = -5 + 12 = 7

Comparing this result with the given options, any answer that equals 7 would be correct. Therefore, the correct choices to the question are options 2) 7 and option 5) (-5) + 12.

Option 3) The difference between -5 and -12 and option 4) The difference between -12 and -5 would not be correct as the difference between these two numbers is their absolute distance on the number line, which is 17, not 7. Furthermore, option 6) (-5) + (-12) equals -17 and not 7, hence it is incorrect.

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