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A dolphin was swimming 7 meters below the surface of the ocean. It located a squid and dove down 4 more meters to eat it. What is the location of the dolphin now relative to the surface? To solve the problem, Lamar subtracted – 7–( – 4) and came up with an answer of – 3 meters. Is Lamar correct? Why or why not?

User Nuway
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1 Answer

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Given:

A dolphin was swimming 7 meters below the surface of the ocean.

It located a squid and dove down 4 more meters to eat it.

Lamar subtracted – 7–( – 4) and came up with an answer of – 3 meters.

To find:

The location of the dolphin now relative to the surface and check whether Lamar is correct or not.

Solution:

A dolphin was swimming 7 meters below the surface of the ocean.

Location of the dolphin relative to the surface = -7

Here, negative sign represents the direction below the surface.

It located a squid and dove down 4 more meters to eat it.

Dove down = -4

Location of the dolphin now relative to the surface = -7+(-4)

= -7-4

= -11

Therefore, the location of the dolphin is 7 meters below the surface of the ocean and Lamar is not correct. She subtracts -4 instead of adding it.

User Srikanth Rongali
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