Question

A hiker is 146 feet above sea level. A scuba diver is 43 feet below sea level (indicates negative). What is the difference (think about which operation this is!) between the scuba diver and the hiker?​

Answer 1

Answer: The difference between the scuba diver's depth and the hiker's height is calculated by subtracting the scuba diver's depth from the hiker's height. Since the scuba diver's depth is indicated as a negative value (below sea level), you would subtract the negative value, which is the same as adding a positive value. In other words, you're essentially finding the sum of the magnitudes of their depths/heights.

So, the difference between the scuba diver and the hiker is:

Difference = Hiker's Height + Scuba Diver's Depth

Difference = 146 feet + (-43) feet

Difference = 146 feet - 43 feet

Difference = 103 feet

The difference between the scuba diver and the hiker is 103 feet.