Create a scenario that involves a change modeled by a positive number, but an end result modeled by a negative number.

Question

Example: Irene is scuba diving 20 feet below sea level. Her sister tells her to swim 5 feet up towards the surface to see a school of fish.

NOTE: To receive credit for this question, you must come up with a unique scenario that involves a positive change and results in a negative number. The example provided is to get you thinking about what is appropriate.

(2 points)

Answer 1

In a geological study, a team of researchers is drilling into the Earth to collect core samples. They begin drilling from ground level, which is considered 0 feet. After drilling down 30 feet into the ground to reach a specific layer of rock, they discover that they need to drill an additional 15 feet deeper to obtain the desired sample.

The positive change is that they drill down 15 feet. However, since they started at ground level (0 feet), after the additional drilling, their total depth is now -45 feet (30 feet initial depth + 15 feet additional depth = 45 feet below zero). Thus, they end up at a negative depth of -45 feet.