Question

A student used the following elevations in a calculation.

• Mt. Everest: 29,035 feet above sea level • Dead Sea: 1,349 feet below sea level
The student said the distance between the two elevations was 27,686 feet. Why is the student's calculation incorrect?
The student added a positive 29,035 and a positive 1,349 instead of subtracting a positive 1,349 from a positive 29,035
The student subtracted a positive 1,349 from a positive 29,035 instead of subtracting a negative 1,349 from a positive 29,035.
The student added a positive 29,035 and a negative 1,349 instead of subtracting a positive 1,349 from a positive 29,035.
The student subtracted a positive 1,349 from a negative 29,035 instead of subtracting a negative 1,349 from a positive 29,035

Answer 1

second one

Explanation:

above sea level means it’s positive

below sea level is negative

(think of the sea level as 0)

the student should be using this equation

29,035-(-1,349) not 29,035-1349