Answer
$ a.\quad$the additive inverse of 12 is $-12$
$b.\quad 5-12=5+(-12) $
Work Step by Step
a. the additive inverse of 12 is $-12.$
b.
To subtract $b$ from $a,\ \mathrm{a}\mathrm{d}\mathrm{d}$ the opposite, or additive inverse, of $b$ to $a.$
$a-b=a+(-b)$
$5-12=5+(-12)$
$=-7$