7th Grade · The Number System
Additive Inverse
7.NS.A.1a
Definition
The opposite of a number. A number and its additive inverse always sum to zero; the additive inverse of n is −n.
Examples
- 7 + (−7) = 0.
- 5 + (−5) = 0 and −3 + 3 = 0.
Key rule
A number plus its additive inverse always equals 0.
Memory hook
Flip the sign and they cancel to zero.