Question

From an elevation of 0.5 m below the surface of the water, a swimmer dives at a rate of 0.25 m/s. What is the depth of the swimmer after 4 minutes?
A.
-60.5 m
B.
60.5 m
C.
-1.5 m
D.
1.5 m

Answer 1

-0.5 - 4*60 * 0.25 = _____

The question is ambiguously worded. Usually, a depth of 6m is just that: 6m. But if you want the swimmer's position relative to the surface, that would be -6m. That is, depth is just the absolute value of the position below water-level.