Final answer:
To find the difference in elevation between the bottom of the canyon and the bird's nest, we add the absolute values of 90 1/2 feet and 575 4/5 feet to get a difference of 666 3/10 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked what is the difference in elevation between the bottom of a canyon at 90 1/2 feet below sea level and a bird's nest that is 575 4/5 feet above sea level.
To find the difference in elevation, we add the absolute values of the two elevations because one is below sea level and one is above sea level.
The complete calculation is as follows:
|-90 1/2| + |575 4/5| = 90 1/2 + 575 4/5
To add these two fractions, we need a common denominator, which is 10. So, we convert 90 1/2 to 90 5/10 and 575 4/5 to 575 8/10. Now we can add the fractions:
90 5/10 + 575 8/10 = 665 13/10. Since 13/10 is an improper fraction, we simplify it to 1 3/10 and add that to 665 to get a final answer:
665 + 1 3/10 = 666 3/10 feet
Therefore, the difference in elevation between the bottom of the canyon and the bird's nest is 666 3/10 feet.