TITLE: How to calculate the opposite of a number?
QUESTION [6 upvotes]: So in general we find the opposite of a number by adding a '-' sign. 
We're able to add the '-' sign to negative numbers as well, but I was wondering if this is correct:
Say we'd want to find the opposite of -7;
$$-(-7)$$
Is it true that one finds the opposite by calculating:
$$-1*-7=7$$

REPLY [2 votes]: Yes, that's true. The absolute value of a number is its distance from $0$. With your example, we see that $-7$ is $7$ away from $0$. If we choose to think that $-7$ is to the left of $0$, then the opposite of $-7$ is $7$ to the right of $0$. That would be $+7$.
The multiplicative identity is $1$. The opposite of the multiplicative identity is $-1$. Ergo multiplying by $-1$ gives the opposite of a number.