Question

Which context describes a difference of rational numbers?
A. The team's score did not change during the game.
B. A football player gains yards on a play.
C. The team's score increased when scoring.
D. A football player loses yards on a play.

Answer 1

The context that describes a difference of rational numbers is:

D. A football player loses yards on a play.

Here's the reasoning:

- A difference of rational numbers implies a situation where you are subtracting one value from another.
- In the context of a football player losing yards, you start with a certain number of yards and then subtract the yards lost. For example, if a player had gained 10 yards and then lost 5 yards, the difference (10 - 5) would be 5 yards.

The other options do not involve subtraction in a meaningful way that defines a difference of rational numbers:
- A. The team's score did not change during the game (no change, so no calculation of differences).
- B. A football player gains yards on a play (this involves addition rather than subtraction).
- C. The team's score increased when scoring (this involves addition rather than subtraction).