Question

A group of hikers starts at an elevation of 2.53 kilometers. When they stop for lunch, their elevation has increased by 1.24 kilometers. When they stop to camp, their elevation has decreased by 0.53 kilometer compared to their lunch stop. Which expressions represent the elevation, in kilometers, of the group’s campsite?

Answer 1

The elevation of the group's campsite is the elevation at the lunch stop minus the decrease in elevation from the lunch stop to the campsite. The lunch stop's elevation is the starting elevation plus the increase in elevation from the starting point to the lunch stop.

So, the elevation of the group's campsite can be represented by the following expression:

(2.53 + 1.24) - 0.53 = 3.77 - 0.53 = 3.24

Alternatively, you could also write the expression as:

2.53 + (1.24 - 0.53) = 2.53 + 0.71 = 3.24

Both expressions represent the elevation, in kilometers, of the group's campsite.