Final answer:
The net yardage for the football team resulted in a loss of 3 yards after subtracting the 8 yards lost on second and third plays from the 5 yards gained on the first play.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves calculating the net gain or loss in yards for a football team over a series of plays. On the first play, the team gained 5 yards. However, across the second and third plays, the team lost a total of 8 yards. To determine the net gain or loss, you combine these yardages by subtracting the lost yards from the gained yards.
The calculation would be: 5 yards gained − 8 yards lost = − 3 yards. Therefore, the net result is a loss of 3 yards.
It's interesting to note that the length of a yard is standardized in modern times and used consistently across football fields, unlike historical definitions that varied based on the measurement from the king's nose to his hand, which could change with each new king.