160k views
4 votes
Two friends are playing with water balloons. They each start at the bucket of balloons and walk in opposite directions before tossing their balloons at each other. Joy walked 15 steps forward, and Shaunte walked 6 steps backwards. Which expression correctly represents the distance between the friends?

|−15| + 6 = 21 steps
|−15| + |−6| = 21 steps
15 + 6 = 21 steps
15 + |−6| = 21 steps

User Nuts
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer: | -15 | + | -6 | = 21 steps

Explanation:

The correct expression that represents the distance between Joy and Shaunte is:

| -15 | + | -6 | = 21 steps

This accounts for Joy walking 15 steps forward (| -15 |) and Shaunte walking 6 steps backward (| -6 |), resulting in a total distance of 21 steps.

User Blake Senftner
by
8.8k points