Final answer:
The difference in altitudes between a scuba diver at -12 meters and a shark at -31 meters is 19 meters. The depth difference calculation is -31 - (-12) which equals -19, indicating the diver is 19 meters closer to the surface than the shark.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference in altitudes between a scuba diver at -12 meters and a shark at -31 meters is calculated by subtracting the depth of the scuba diver from the depth of the shark. The calculation would look like this:
Shark's depth (-31 meters) - Diver's depth (-12 meters) = Difference in depth
-31 - (-12) = -31 + 12 = -19 meters.
Therefore, the difference in altitudes between the scuba diver and the shark is 19 meters, which is a positive number since altitude differences are considered as absolute values. This corresponds to option A) 19 meters.