Final answer:
The difference between the temperatures in New York City and Cleveland is determined by calculating the absolute value of their difference, which amounts to 21°F. This method applies regardless of whether temperatures are above or below freezing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between the temperatures of two cities is the absolute difference in their temperature readings. In the given scenario, New York City has a temperature of -14°F and Cleveland has a temperature of 7°F.
To find the difference, we subtract the lower temperature from the higher temperature ignoring the signs, and then take the absolute value of the result. This is because we are looking for the difference in magnitude, not direction. So, calculating the difference gives us: |7°F - (-14°F)| = |7°F + 14°F| = |21°F|, which means the difference is 21°F.
It is important to consider the entire pattern of data over time when trying to understand typical weather patterns, rather than focusing solely on one-time extremes. For example, understanding the typical weather in Chicago would require looking at historical data rather than just the extremes of 105°F and -27°F.