Final answer:
The sign of the change in temperature (∆t) for the water and the metal depends on whether the temperature is increasing or decreasing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sign of the change in temperature (∆t) for the water and the metal depends on whether the temperature is increasing or decreasing.
If the temperature is increasing, the sign of ∆t is positive (+) for both the water and the metal. This means that the temperature is rising.
If the temperature is decreasing, the sign of ∆t is negative (-) for both the water and the metal. This means that the temperature is falling.