What is the opposite of -4?
Understand the Problem
The question asks to find the opposite of the number -4. The opposite of a number is its additive inverse, which means the number that, when added to the original number, results in zero.
Answer
$4$
Answer for screen readers
$4$
Steps to Solve
- Define the opposite of a number
The opposite of a number $x$ is a number that, when added to $x$, equals zero. We can represent this as $x + (-x) = 0$.
- Apply the definition to the given number
We are given the number $-4$. We need to find a number that, when added to $-4$, equals zero. Let's call this number $y$. So, we have $-4 + y = 0$.
- Solve for the unknown number
To solve for $y$, we can add $4$ to both sides of the equation: $-4 + y + 4 = 0 + 4$ $y = 4$ Therefore, the opposite of $-4$ is $4$.
$4$
More Information
The opposite of a negative number is always a positive number, and the opposite of a positive number is always a negative number. The opposite of zero is zero.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the opposite of a number with its reciprocal. The reciprocal of a number $x$ is $1/x$, while the opposite is $-x$.
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