The question asks us to identify which of the given expressions results in the value -7. This involves understanding basic arithmetic operations, specifically subtraction with negative numbers....
Evaluating the Expressions
Let's evaluate each expression one by one:
A. -2 - (-5)
Subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding its positive counterpart. Therefore, this expression simplifies to:
-2 + 5 = 3
B. 2 - (-5)
Similarly, this expression becomes:
2 + 5 = 7
C. -2 - 5
This expression involves subtracting a positive number from a negative number. The result will be a more negative number:
-2 - 5 = -7
D. 2 - 5
This is a straightforward subtraction:
2 - 5 = -3
The Answer
The expression C. -2 - 5 is equivalent to -7. This is because subtracting a positive number from a negative number results in a more negative value.
Key Concepts:
Subtracting Negative Numbers
Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its positive counterpart. This is because subtraction is essentially adding the inverse of the second number. For example, 5 - (-3) is equivalent to 5 + 3.
Number Line
Visualizing numbers on a number line can help understand the concept of negative numbers and subtraction. When subtracting a positive number, you move left on the number line. When subtracting a negative number, you move right on the number line.
In Summary
By understanding the rules of subtracting negative numbers and carefully evaluating each expression, we found that -2 - 5 is equivalent to -7. This problem highlights the importance of carefully considering the signs of numbers in mathematical operations.