Question

Which of the following images represents $9–(–5)?$

Answer 1

9 – (–5)
The given expression is 9 – (–5).
We have to subtract –5 from 9, i.e., take away –5 from 9.

$\underset{–}{\text{Step 1:}}$
9 represents 9 positive chips.


$\underset{–}{\text{Step 2:}}$
Now, we need to take away –5 from the 9 chips. But there are no negative chips.

So, we add negative chips one by one, and to cancel them out, we also add the same number of positive chips.
Thus, we include a total of 5 negative and 5 positve chips to the 9 positive chips without changing its resultant value.

So, now, we have three things: 9 positive chips, 5 negative chips (because we have to take away –5) and 5 additional positive chips (to compensate the negatives).

$\underset{–}{\text{Step 3:}}$
5 negative chips represent –5.
Now, –5 has to be subtracted from the 9. So, removing 5 negative chips will result in 14 positive chips.


Hence, the option having 14 positive chips is the correct answer.