Question

A heron is perched in a tree 50 feet above sea level. Directly below the heron, a pelican is flying 17 feet above sea level. Directly below the birds is a trout, swimming 23 feet below sea level.

Select all the true statements.
A. The difference in height between the pelican and the heron is -33 feet
B. The difference in height between the pelican and the heron is 33 feet
C. The distance between the heights of the pelican and heron is -33 feet
D. The difference in height between the pelican and the trout is -40 feet
E. The difference in height between the pelican and the trout is 40 feet
F. The distance between the heights of the pelican and the trout is 40 feet.

Answer 1

a

c

f

Explanation:

-33+50=17

50-17=-33

17+23=40

Answer 2

B. The difference in height between the pelican and the heron is 33 feet.

E. The difference in height between the pelican and the trout is 40 feet.

Explanation:

Notice that the heron and the pelican are above sea level, that means they are in positive territory.

On the other hand, the trout is below the sea level, so it's in negative territory.

The difference in height between the heron and the pelican is

`50ft-17ft=33ft`

Notice that this difference should be positive, because we just want to know the difference between heights.

On the other hand, the difference between the pelican and the trout is

`17ft-(-23ft)=17+23=40ft`

Because the difference is a positive number.

Therefore, the right answers are B and E.