Final answer:
The opposite of a number is its negative if it's positive, and positive if it's negative. Thus, -5 has an opposite of 5, -12 has an opposite of 12, 5 has an opposite of -5, and 12 has an opposite of -12.
Step-by-step explanation:
The opposite of a number is a value that is the exact negative if the original number is positive, and positive if the original number is negative. In simpler terms, the opposite of a number is what you would add to that number to get zero. Here are the opposites for each of the provided numbers:
- A. -5 ➔ The opposite is 5
- B. -12 ➔ The opposite is 12
- C. 5 ➔ The opposite is -5
- D. 12 ➔ The opposite is -12
Remember, if the number is on the left side of zero on the number line, its opposite will be on the right side by the same distance from zero, and vice versa. This helps visualize why a negative added to a positive or a positive added to a negative of the same magnitude gives zero.