Final answer:
An example of opposite numbers combining to make zero is when a car travels 5 kilometers forward and then 5 kilometers backward; the opposite distances of +5 and -5 kilometers add up to zero. This illustrates no net change in position and is an example of how opposite numbers cancel each other out in mathematical operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
A real-world example of a pair of opposite numbers combining to make zero can be seen in situations involving movement or forces. Consider a car trip where the vehicle travels 5 kilometers forward toward a destination and then reverses direction to travel 5 kilometers back to the starting point. Here, we can assign a positive sign (+) to the distance traveled forward and a negative sign (-) to the distance traveled in the opposite direction. These are the pair of opposite numbers: +5 and -5. When added together, they combine to make zero, indicating no net change in position.
In physics, this concept is related to Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. An example is when a person sitting in a boat pushes against the dock with a force; the boat exerts an equal and opposite force and moves away from the dock.
In mathematics, when we add or subtract numbers, the rules dictate how opposite numbers interact. For instance, when adding -7 and +7, the result is 0 because the positive and negative values cancel each other out.
The same principle applies when subtracting numbers or considering other operations like multiplication and division, where the signs of the numbers determine the sign of the result.