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Definition of additive identity

The additive identity is a good name for this property because it is a special property of addition.

Ask yourself, what can I add to any integer or real number, which we'll call 'a', whose sum is 'a'. The answer is zero.

The addditive identity : Any number plus zero equals the original number.

Examples of the additive identity

$ 3 + \red 0 = 3 \\ a + \red 0 = a \\ \frac 1 2 + \red 0 = \frac 1 2 \\ -\frac 1 2 + \red 0 = - \frac 1 2 $

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