Final answer:
Subtracting a number is akin to adding its negative, and the order of subtraction does not affect the result. This principle also applies to subtracting vectors. Using the correct symbols is essential for showing exact or approximate equivalencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to the equivalent expression of a difference. In mathematics, when dealing with subtraction under certain conditions, it can be treated similarly to the addition of a negative number. For example, if we have an equation such as 5 - (+3), it can be rewritten as 5 - 3 = 2, where +3 becomes -3 before addition. This is similar to subtracting vectors; when we subtract one vector from another graphically, we essentially add the negative of the vector being subtracted. This technique assures that the order of subtraction does not affect the result. Furthermore, the use of inequality symbols can relate metric measurements, and symbols like ≈ or similar show approximation rather than exact equality which is important in estimations or approximate calculations. Also, mathematical operations like adding or subtracting the same number to both sides of an equation keeps the equality intact.