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Inverse Property of Addition

The inverse property of addition states that for any real number aa:

a+(a)=0a + (-a) = 0

In words, the sum of any number and its additive inverse (opposite) is always zero — the additive identity. For example, 7+(7)=07 + (-7) = 0 and 4+4=0-4 + 4 = 0. This property formalizes the observation that every real number has an opposite that "cancels" it under addition, returning the result to zero. Together with the identity and commutative properties, the inverse property of addition is one of the foundational rules governing how addition behaves on the real numbers.

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Updated 2026-05-02

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