Question

Please I need help don't understand this problem.

Trina and Jessie went on vacation. Trina went scuba diving and reached an elevation of -85.5 meters, which is below sea level. Jessie went hang gliding and reached 87.9 meters which is above sea level.
Who is closer to the surface of the ocean? Explain?

Trina wants to hang glide at the same number of meters above sea level as she scuba dived below sea level. Will she fly higher than Jessie did? Explain?

Answer 1

Firstly we need to realize that "sea level" is the same as "surface of the ocean" and 0.

It means that Trina the scuba-diver is closer to the surface of the ocean than Jessie the glider because Trina is 85,5 meters from 0 level and Jessie is 87,9 meters from 0 level.

Now if Trina will hang glide at the altitude of 85,5, than she will not fly higher than Jessie (she will fly lower by 87,9 - 85,5 = 2,4 meters).

Answer 2

Trina is closer to the surface of the ocean.

She will not fly higher than Jessie did.

Explanation:

Consider the provided information.

The distance is the absolute value of a number.

Part (A)

It is given that Trina went scuba diving and reached an elevation of -85.5 meters, which is below sea level.

That means the distance she covers is: |-85.5| = 85.5 meters

Thus Trina covers 85.5 meters.

Jessie went hang gliding and reached 87.9 meters which is above sea level.

That means the distance she covers is: |87.9| = 87.9 meters

We know that 85.5 < 87.9

So, we can say that Trina is closer to the surface of the ocean as she covers less distance.

Part (B)

Trina wants to hang glide at the same number of meters above sea level as she scuba dived below sea level.

That means she will hang the glide at a height of 85.5 meters.

As we know 85.5 < 87.9

Thus, she will not fly higher than Jessie did.