Question

Positive numbers are not closed under subtraction. Give an example of this 1 below.

Answer 1

Answer:

5 -3 = 2

3-5 = -2

Step-by-step explanation:

In this question, we want to examine the validity of the statement by the use of an example.

Firstly, we need to understand the meaning of the fact that they are ‘closed’

By saying these numbers are closed under this arithmetic operation i.e subtraction, we directly mean that they obey the closure property.

Now, to obey the closure property means that if we move either way i.e by switching the numbers and performing the same arithmetic operation of subtraction, we are supposed to get same answer.

What this means in terms of examples is as follows;

Consider two positive numbers, 5 and 3

Now we know that 5-3 = 2

To check if the closure property is obeyed, switch the place of the numbers.

This means we would have;

3-5 = -2

We can see that both results are not the same. We can then conclude that the arithmetic operation of subtraction is not closed or does not obey the closure property for positive numbers.