Final answer:
The equation that illustrates the integers as a system of positive and negative whole numbers is a + (-b) = c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation that illustrates the integers as a system of positive and negative whole numbers is d) a + (-b) = c. In this equation, the negative sign (-) represents a negative number. For example, if a = 5 and b = 3, then a + (-b) = 5 + (-3) = 2. This equation allows us to perform addition and subtraction with positive and negative numbers, representing the integers as a system.