What is the opposite of 5, written as -5, and what does it mean?
The opposite of $5$ is $-5$. “Opposite” means the number that is the same distance from $0$ on the number line but on the other side, so $5$ is 5 units to the right of 0 and $-5$ is 5 units to the left. It is also called the additive inverse because $5 + (-5) = 0$.
What “opposite” means on a number line
When math says “the opposite of a number,” it is talking about where the number sits relative to $0$.
- Positive numbers are to the right of $0$.
- Negative numbers are to the left of $0$.
- Opposites are the same distance from $0$, but on opposite sides.
So $5$ is 5 units right of $0$, and $-5$ is 5 units left of $0$.
Why the opposite of $5$ is written as $-5$
The minus sign tells you the direction is reversed (left instead of right), but the size (5 units) stays the same. That is why the opposite of $5$ is $-5$.
Quick check using addition (additive inverse)
A number and its opposite add to zero:
$$5 + (-5) = 0$$
That is the defining property of “opposites” in this context.
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