[Math] Justify if the following is true/false. $\exists\ $an integer $a$ such that $\forall\ $integers $b$, $a+b=0$.

discrete mathematics

Indicate whether each of the following statements is true or false and justify your answer.

i) $\forall\ $integers$\ $a$, \exists\ $an integer b such that $a+b=0$.
ii) $\exists\ $an integer $a$ such that $\forall\ $integers $b$, $a+b=0$.

For part (i), I attempted the question using a direct proof:

Let $b=-a$.

Then $a+(-a)=0$. Therefore, this statement is true.

However, I got confused for part (ii). From what I can see, it just seems like the first two parts of part (i) and (ii) is switched in places.

Is there anyone who can help explain this for me? Is there a difference in the meaning of the questions?

Best Answer

The first statement says that any integer number has an opposite. This is true but you havr to prove it starting from some axiomatic definition of integers, deducing the existence of the element $-a=b$.

The second statement says that there is an integer number that is the opposite of all ather numbers. Tis is false, because if, for the same $a$ we have: $a+b=0$ and $a+c=0$ with $b \ne c$, then we have a contradiction: $$ c=c+0=c+a+b=(a+c)+b=b $$