Question

Terrell wrote that 5 – 4.2 = 8. Which statement about his answer is true? CLEAR CHECK 8 is wrong because a number gets smaller, not larger, when you take 4.2 from it. 8 is right because 50 – 42 = 8. 8 is right because 4.2 + 8 = 5. 8 is wrong because you cannot subtract a decimal from a whole number.

Answer 1

a) is wrong because a number gets smaller, not larger, when you take 4.2 from it

Explanation:

Given

`5 - 4.2 = 8`

Required

Determine which of the options is true

First, we need to solve for 5 - 4.2

`5 - 4.2 = 0.8`

Compare this answer with Terell's answer (8)

We observe that:
`0.8 \\eq 8`

This implies that; Terell is wrong

The two options that support the answer being wrong are (a) & (d)

Analyzing (a):

5 should get smaller when 4.2 is subtracted from it.

This isn't the case in Terell's solution.

Hence, (a) is true

Analyzing (d):

d is wrong because a decimal can be subtracted from a whole number

Hence, (a) answers the question