Question

Describe how to find the opposite of an integer.

Short answer

The opposite of any integer $a$is written as$-a$.

Step-by-step solution

What do opposites mean in integers?

The opposite of a number is the number on the other side of 0 (zero)on the number line, and the same distance from 0 (zero) on the number.

The opposite of a positive integer is a negative integer and vice versa. So, the opposite of the integer +35 is −35 and opposite of + 41 is – 41

How do you identify an integer and its opposites?

An integer and its opposite are the same distance (in the opposite directions) from 0 (zero) on the number line.

For example, – 56 and 56 are opposites, and the same distance from 0 (zero) on the number line.

Example on number line:

$- 4$is the opposite of $4$:

3 is opposite of $- 3$

Describe how to find the opposite of an integer.

According to the question, describe how to find the opposite of an integer.

The opposite of a number is the number on the other side of0(zero)on a number line, and the same distance from0 (zero). Both the numbers have the same absolute value but different signs.

For Example, write the opposite of$-12$.

First, it is determined that the given integer has “$-$” sign in its front, so the number is negative.

Rule: The opposite of negative ‘$-$’ is positive ‘$+$’, or opposite of positive ‘$+$’ is negative ‘$-$’.

Therefore, the opposite of $-12$ is$12$.