Answer:
The stock market goes up 70 1/2 points at the beginning of the day, so we can represent the starting value as:
Starting value = 70 1/2
The stock market stays at this level for most of the day, so the value remains the same until the end of the day.
At the end of the day, the stock market goes down 120 3/4 points from the high at the beginning of the day. To calculate the ending value, we need to subtract this decrease from the starting value:
Ending value = Starting value - Decrease
Ending value = 70 1/2 - 120 3/4
To subtract the two values, we need to convert them to a common fraction with a common denominator of 4:
70 1/2 = 141/2
120 3/4 = 483/4
Ending value = 141/2 - 483/4
Ending value = 282/4 - 483/4
Ending value = -201/4
Therefore, the total change in the stock market from the beginning of the day to the end of the day is:
Ending value - Starting value = (-201/4) - (141/2) = -201/4 - 282/4 = -483/4
The total change in the stock market from the beginning of the day to the end of the day is a decrease of 483/4 points.