Question

-35 = 72 is similar to which number sentence?

a) -72 = 35
b) 35 = 72
c) -35 = -72
d) 72 = -35

Answer 1

The number sentence -35 = 72 is most similar to d) 72 = -35, both suggesting a negative is equal to a positive; neither is mathematically correct but are structurally similar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number sentence -35 = 72 is most similar to d) 72 = -35. Both of these number sentences are stating that a negative number is equivalent to a positive number, which is not true in a mathematical sense. However, the structure of the sentence (a negative is stated as equal to a positive) is what makes these two number sentences similar. Neither equality is true, but the relationship between the numbers is what's being compared in this context.

To help understand how to compare numbers and their equality or inequality, consider an example: 5 - (+3) = 5 - 3 = 2. Note that the 3 is subtracted, and its sign is changed before performing the addition. Another example would be to subtract -6 from 2: 2 - (-6) = 2 + 6 = 8. These examples show how to handle basic arithmetic operations with both positive and negative numbers.