Comparing Numbers a and b: Analyzing Positive and Negative Relationships

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

• Step 1: Identify the given information - $a$ is positive and $b$ is negative.
• Step 2: Transform the subtraction into addition - Recognize that $a - b$ is equivalent to $a + |b|$.
• Step 3: Analyze the result - Since both $a$ and $|b|$ are positive numbers, their sum is positive.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: We are given that $a$ is a positive number and $b$ is a negative number.
Step 2: The expression $a - b$ can be rewritten by recognizing that subtracting a negative is the same as adding its absolute value. Hence, $a - b = a + |b|$, where $|b|$ is the positive magnitude of $b$.
Step 3: Adding two positive numbers, $a$ and $|b|$, results in a positive number. Thus, the expression $a - b$ simplifies to a positive number.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is positive.