Find the net force produced by a 40 newton force and a 50 newton force in each of the following cases?

Question

both force act in opposite direction

Answer 1

Forces are additive.  If they are going the same direction, the net force will be 50+40=90 N.  If they are in opposite directions, then it will be 50+(-40)=10 N.  Whichever direction the 50 N force is pointing is the direction that the net force will point.

Answer 2

To find the net force (I like to think of net as difference) we have to subtract the two forces and since there are no angles involved it is quite easy.

50-40 = 10 N. Therefore the net force is 10 N.

You should give your answer as "10 N in the direction of the 50 N force" Since if these two forces were acted on a dog (first thing that came to my head) the dog would move in the direction of the 50 N force since it is overpowering the 40 N force.