A diver's elevation is -5 feet relative to sea level. A school of fish is swimming at an elevation of -12 feet. What is the difference in elevation between the diver and the school of fish?

2 Answers
Athleticbrainiac
Sep 14, 2016

#7 feet.#

Explanation:

You can solve this question by visualizing it in your mind. For instance, you can use a number line:

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Now count how many digits #-5# is from #-12#.

The answer should be #7#.

For future reference, keep in mind that when describing the distance between negative numbers you might want to try and use positive numbers instead of negative since you are describing the distance between two things.

Tony B
Sep 18, 2016

10 feet

Explanation:

To help you see what is going on it is usually helpful to draw a quick sketch.

In this case the negative part of the numbers signify that the values are below sea level. However, suppose they were positive. In that situation they would be above sea level.

Tony B

Difference in elevation (fancy word for height) is 15-5 =10 feet

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