What is the additive identity of a number?

The additive identity of a number is the value that, when added to any number, will not change the value of that number. In the context of addition, this identity is represented by the number zero. For any number ( x ), when you add zero to it (i.e., ( x + 0 = x )), the result remains the same as the original number. Therefore, zero is recognized as the additive identity because it preserves the value of the number it is added to, making it a fundamental concept in arithmetic and algebra.

Understanding the role of the additive identity helps in various mathematical contexts, such as solving equations and understanding properties of numbers within the fields of both basic arithmetic and more advanced mathematics.