Question

The shore of the Dead Sea, which is the lowest dry land on Earth, has an elevation of -316 meters. Death Valley, which is the lowest dry land in the United States, has an elevation of -76 meters. How much greater is the elevation of Death Valley than the elevation of the Dead Sea?

Option 1: The elevation of Death Valley is 240 meters greater than that of the Dead Sea.
Option 2: Death Valley's elevation is 316 meters higher than the Dead Sea.
Option 3: The elevation difference between Death Valley and the Dead Sea is 76 meters.
Option 4: Death Valley's elevation is 240 meters lower than that of the Dead Sea.

Answer 1

Death Valley's elevation at -76 meters is 240 meters greater than the Dead Sea's elevation at -316 meters, making Option 1 the correct choice.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves comparing the elevations of two locations below sea level to determine the difference in elevation. The Dead Sea has an elevation of -316 meters, and Death Valley has an elevation of -76 meters. To find how much greater the elevation of Death Valley is compared to the Dead Sea, we subtract the elevations: (-76) - (-316) = 240 meters.

Therefore, the elevation of Death Valley is 240 meters greater than the elevation of the Dead Sea, making Option 1 the correct choice. This mathematical calculation takes into account the relative positioning of both locations in relation to the mean sea level, marked as 0 meters elevation.