What is the term for the opposite of a number?

The term "inverse" is used to describe the opposite of a number, specifically in the context of additive inverses. The additive inverse of a number is what you would add to that number to yield zero. For instance, the inverse of 5 is -5, because 5 + (-5) = 0. This concept extends to the realm of mathematics where it applies to not only numbers but also in more complex forms such as equations and expressions.

In this case, when discussing the opposite of a number, the focus is on how numbers interact within addition. The other terms—base, coefficient, and term—relate to different mathematical concepts. A base is typically associated with exponentiation, a coefficient is a multiplicative factor in front of a variable in algebra, and a term refers to a single mathematical expression or component in an equation or series. None of these terms relate specifically to the concept of opposites as the term "inverse" does.