Question

As the Cave explorer was climbing back to the surface, he recorded his height along with the change in elevation, he wrote this as an expression. -600 - (-50) Explain his expression in terms of elevation, elevation change and why he wrote it the way he did.

Answer 1

Kindly check explanation

Explanation:

Given the expression : -600 - (-50) as explorer climbs back to the surface :

In terms of elevation :

-600 represents the initial position below the surface.

The Change in elevation from his initial position is - 50 (though the climber is moving towards the surface) ; the negative sign depicts that he is still below the surface.

Hence,

-600 - (-50)

= - 600 + 50

= - 610

Hence, the explorer moved an elevation of - 50 in the upward direction from his initial position of - 600 ; Hence, his position is - 610 ; which is still beneath the surface