Final answer:
The expression 1-(-4) equals 5 because subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding its positive counterpart. Following the rules of addition, we change -(-4) to +4 and add it to 1, resulting in 5.
Step-by-step explanation:
You seem to be confused about the operation 1-(-4). When we subtract a negative number, we are effectively adding its opposite. Here is the step-by-step explanation:
- Start with the original expression: 1 - (-4).
- Recognize that subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive: 1 + 4.
- Perform the addition: 1 + 4 = 5.
The result of 1-(-4) is not -4, but rather 5. This is because the double negative in the expression becomes positive. In subtraction, changing the sign of the number being subtracted and then following addition rules is essential. In this case, the -(-4) changes to +4, so when we add it to 1, we get 5.
Remember that signs of numbers are relative to zero, with negative (-ve) indicating less than zero and positive (+ve) indicating more than zero.