Question

Which one of the following equals a negative number?

a) 5+(-9) + 4
b) (-5) +9 09-(-5)
c) (-9) +5
d) 9+5​

Answer 1

Option c) (-9) + 5 is the correct answer because when you add a smaller positive number to a larger negative number, the result is negative, leading to -9 + 5 = -4.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is option c) (-9) + 5.

When determining whether the sum of two numbers will be negative, we can apply the following rules:

• When a positive number is added to a larger negative number, the result is negative.
• When a negative number is added to a smaller positive number, the result is also negative.

Using these rules:

1. a) 5+(-9) + 4: Here, you have 5 - 9 = -4, and then -4 + 4 = 0. This result is not negative.
2. b) (-5) + 9 - (-5): This simplifies to -5 + 9 = 4, and then 4 + 5 = 9. This result is positive.
3. Option c) (-9) + 5: This simplifies to -9 + 5 = -4, which is negative.
4. d) 9 + 5: This results in 14, which is positive.

Therefore, option c) (-9) + 5 is the correct answer since it equals a negative number.

The correct answer is option a) 5+(-9) + 4.

When two negative numbers add, the answer has a negative sign. In this case, we have -9 + 5 = -4. Adding 5 to -9 gives us a negative number