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Murphy and Naryam do their math homeworktogether. When they find math 9−(−8), they getdifferent answers. Murphy claims the differenceis 17. Naryam claims the difference is -1. math.who is true?

User Rcabr
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Final answer:

In the expression 9−(−8), subtracting a negative number becomes an addition problem, resulting in 9 + 8 = 17.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of this question is a common one in mathematics, where understanding of operations with integers is essential. Specifically, Murphy and Naryam are trying to solve the expression 9−(−8), which includes subtracting a negative number from a positive number. According to the rules of arithmetic for subtraction and addition:

1. In subtraction, change the sign of the subtracted number and then follow the addition rules.

2. When two numbers having opposite signs add, subtract the smaller number from the larger one, and the answer has the sign of the larger number.

3. When two negative numbers add, the result has a negative sign.

Therefore, for the expression 9−(−8), we first change the subtraction of a negative number into addition, which becomes 9 + 8. Then following the addition rules for two positive numbers, we obtain 9 + 8 = 17. Murphy's calculation is therefore correct, and the difference is indeed 17, not -1 as Naryam suggested.

User Swe
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