Verified Answer :

  • Recognize that subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding a positive number: \(a - (-b) = a + b\).
  • Apply this rule to the expression: \(4 - (-8) = 4 + 8\).
  • Calculate the sum: \(4 + 8 = 12\).
  • The final answer is \(\boxed{12}\).

Explanation

  1. Understanding the Problem

The expression provided is \(4 - (-8)\). To solve this, we need to apply the fundamental property of arithmetic regarding the subtraction of negative numbers. The subtraction of a negative value is equivalent to adding its positive counterpart. Formally, for any real numbers \(a\) and \(b\), the operation \(a - (-b)\) is equal to \(a + b\).

  1. Calculation and Conclusion

Applying the property mentioned, we rewrite the expression:
\[4 - (-8) = 4 + 8.\]
Now, we simply perform the addition:
\[4 + 8 = 12.\]
Therefore, the result of the calculation is 12.

Examples

Imagine you have a temperature gauge. If the current temperature is \(4^\circ\text{C}\) and it drops by \(-8^\circ\text{C}\) (which means it actually rises by \(8^\circ\text{C}\)), the new temperature will be \(4 - (-8) = 12^\circ\text{C}\). This demonstrates how subtracting a negative quantity represents a net increase, which is a common occurrence in various measurement and accounting contexts.

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