Question

Travis gained 9 pounds during the holidays. He dieted and lost 14 pounds but gained 3 more when he went on vacation. By the end of the year he lost another 7 pounds. How much and in what direction was his net change in weight?

Answer 1

At the end of the year, Travis had 9 less pounds then what he started with during the holidays, meaning that the direction of his net change in weight is negative.

Explanation:

We don't know what Travis's weight is to start with, so let's add a variable that will substitute for his weight. It's not too important to know exactly what his weight to start with is, anyway. If you write it out using w as the weight Travis started with during the holidays, you would end up with:

w + 9 - 14 + 3 - 7

If you simplify the above equation:

w - 9

This means that at the end of the year, Travis will have 9 less pounds than what he started with in the holidays.