167k views
11 votes
The temperature fell by 15 degrees Fahrenheit today.

Write a signed number to represent this temperature change.

User Vitas
by
3.4k points

1 Answer

1 vote

Answer is -15

We read this out as "negative 15" or you could write "negative fifteen".

The negative indicates the temperature went down. It doesn't necessarily mean that the final temperature is -15 degrees.

For example, if it starts being 50 degrees F, and drops by 15 degrees, then 50+(-15) = 50-15 = 35 degrees is the temperature after that drop. It might help to use a vertical number line.

User Nicolas Goy
by
3.4k points