Question

The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth is 135.8°F below 0, recorded in Antarctica on July 21, 1983. The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth is 134°F, recorded in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913. What is the difference between those two temperatures? Is the coldest temperature represented by a positive or negative number?

Answer 1

The difference between the coldest temperature, represented by a negative number (-135.8°F), and the hottest temperature (134°F) on Earth is 269.8°F.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between the coldest and hottest temperatures ever recorded on Earth can be found by subtracting the coldest temperature from the hottest temperature. The coldest temperature is minus 135.8°F (which is a negative number), and the hottest temperature is 134°F (a positive number). To find the difference, we calculate 134°F - (-135.8°F), which is the same as 134°F + 135.8°F, giving us a total difference of 269.8°F. This calculation shows that negative numbers are used to represent temperatures below zero, which in the case of temperatures, is below the freezing point of water.