Question

At the beginning of the day, the stock market goes up 50 points and stays at this level for most of the day. At the end of the day, the stock market goes down 90 points from the high at the beginning of the day. What is the total change in the stock market from the beginning of the day to the end of the day?

The total change in the stock market is
a) -40 points
b) 40 points
c) 140 points
d) -140 points

Answer 1

The total change in the stock market from the beginning to the end of the day is calculated by adding the initial increase of 50 points to the subsequent decrease of 90 points, which results in a net decrease of -40 points (a).

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the total change in the stock market from the beginning to the end of the day. Initially, the market goes up by 50 points, so we start above the original level. At the end of the day, it goes down 90 points from the high, not from the starting level, which would mean it's now 40 points below the original starting point.

To calculate the change, we simply subtract the final value from the initial value. If the market goes up 50 points, and then drops 90 points, we have:

• Starting point: 0 points
• Increase: +50 points
• Decrease: -90 points
• Total change: 50 - 90 = -40 points

Hence, the correct answer is a) -40 points, signifying a net decrease in stock market points from the opening to the closing of the day.