what is the positive difference in the sums of the letters in the words MATH and COUNTS, if each letter is assigned a value as follows: A=1, B=-2, C=3, D=-4, ..., Y=25, Z=-26?

Answer 1

MATH = 13 + 1 - 20 - 8 = - 14.
COUNTS=3 + 15 + 21 - 14 + 15 - 14 = 5.

COUNTS - MATH=5 - (-14) = 5 + 14 = 19.

Answer 2

CORRECTION:

COUNTS=3 + 15 + 21 - 14 + 15 - 14 = 26.

COUNTS - MATH=26 - (-14) = 26 + 14=40.