Solve the Subtraction Equation: 20 - 20 = ?

Q: Why isn't the answer 20 if I see 20 twice in the problem?

The minus sign changes everything! $ 20 - 20 $ means you're taking away all 20 from the original 20, leaving you with 0.

Q: Is zero really a number?

Yes! Zero is a very important number that represents nothing or no amount. It's not the same as having no answer at all.

Q: Does this zero rule work with any number?

Absolutely! Any number minus itself equals zero: $ 5 - 5 = 0 $, $ 100 - 100 = 0 $, even $ 0 - 0 = 0 $!

Q: What if I accidentally picked a different answer?

No worries! Remember that subtraction means taking away. When you take away everything you started with, you're left with nothing (zero).

Subtraction with Identical Numbers

$20-20=$

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Step-by-step video solution

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00:00 Solve

00:05 Any number minus itself always equals 0

00:10 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$20-20=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify the operation involved - subtraction.
Step 2: Apply the operation by subtracting 20 from 20.

Now, let's work through these steps:

Step 1: Recognize that the operation is subtraction, specifically $20 - 20$ .

Step 2: Perform the subtraction:
$20 - 20 = 0$

This follows the basic arithmetic rule that any number minus itself equals zero.

Therefore, the solution to this problem is $0$ . The correct answer choice is Choice 2.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Zero Property: Any number minus itself always equals zero
Technique: Recognize 20 - 20 = 0 using the identity rule
Check: Verify by thinking: 20 take away 20 leaves nothing ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Thinking the answer is the original number
Don't assume 20 - 20 = 20 because you see the number twice! This ignores the subtraction operation completely. Always perform the actual subtraction: when you take away all 20, nothing remains, so the answer is 0.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$1\times1000=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why isn't the answer 20 if I see 20 twice in the problem?

The minus sign changes everything! $20 - 20$ means you're taking away all 20 from the original 20, leaving you with 0.

Is zero really a number?

Yes! Zero is a very important number that represents nothing or no amount. It's not the same as having no answer at all.

Does this zero rule work with any number?

Absolutely! Any number minus itself equals zero: $5 - 5 = 0$ , $100 - 100 = 0$ , even $0 - 0 = 0$ !

How can I remember this rule?

Think of it like this: if you have 20 cookies and give away all 20 cookies, how many do you have left? Zero cookies! Same idea with any subtraction where both numbers are identical.

What if I accidentally picked a different answer?

No worries! Remember that subtraction means taking away. When you take away everything you started with, you're left with nothing (zero).

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