Question

Aubrey spends a winter day recording the temperature once every three hours for science class. At 9 am, the temperature was -4.6°F. Between 9am and noon, the temperature increased by 4.2°F. Between noon and 3pm, the temperature went down 8.3°F. Between 3pm and 6pm, the temperature decreased by 6.9°F. What was the temperature at 6pm?

Answer 1

Answer: -15.6°F

Explanation:

We can use addition to solve this question. We will add together all of the temperature changes (in order) from 9 am to 6 pm to find our answer. Increased is a positive and decreased (or went down) is a negative.

9am to Noon = -4.6°F + 4.2°F = -0.4°F

Noon to 3pm = -0.4°F - 8.3°F = -8.7°F

3pm to 6pm = -8.7°F - 6.9°F = -15.6°F

We can also write this as one large equation.

-4.6°F + 4.2°F - 8.3°F - 6.9°F = -15.6°F

Either way, the temperature at 6pm on Aubrey's winter day is -15.6°F.