Question

Geographers use negative numbers to represent elevations below sea level and positive numbers to represent elevations above sea level. A penguin dove 3.5 meters below sea level to catch dinner for his kids, who are sitting on an iceberg 1/2 meter above sea level. What is the difference in elevation between the penguin and his kids?

Answer 1

the difference in elevation between the penguin and his kids is:

0.5 - (-3.5) = 0.5 + 3.5 = 4 meters