Question

On Monday, the temperature was 6 degrees cooler than it had been on Sunday, on Tuesday the temperature rose 4 degrees from Monday. Wednesday's temperature was cooler than Tuesday's, but not as cool as it was on Monday. Which answer choice shows a reasonable answer for the difference in temperature on Wednesday, as compared to the temperature on Sunday?

A) -10 degrees


B) -7 degrees


C) -4 degrees


D) -2 degrees

Answer 1

C) -4 degrees

Explanation:

let's set Sunday Temp = 0°

Since Monday is 6° cooler than Sunday, we subtract 6° from 0 (Sunday's temp)

Monday's Temp -6 (0-6)

Since Tuesday's Temp is 4° higher than Monday, we add 4 to Monday's temp:

Tuesday's Temp -2 (-6+4)

Wednesday's Temp is cooler than Tuesday's but not as cool as Monday's, we assume that Wednesday's Temp is in-between -6 & -2

that makes

c. -4 a reasonable choice

Answer 2

C) -4 degrees

Explanation:

Let x be the temperature on sunday,

Then, according to the question,

The temperature on monday = x - 6,

On Tuesday = (x-6) + 4 = x - 2,

Now, Wednesday's temperature was cooler than Tuesday's, but not as cool as it was on Monday,

That is, x - 6 < temperature on wednesday < x - 2

⇒ x- 6 - x < temperature on wednesday - x < x - 2 - x

⇒-6 < temperature on wednesday - temperature on sunday < -2

Since, -6 < -4 < -2

Hence, the possible difference between the temperature on Wednesday, as compared to the temperature on Sunday would be -4.

Option 'C' is correct.