Solve the following word problem. The air temperature at 9 a.m. is −5.8

Question

degrees Celsius. The air temperature at noon is −1.6
degrees Celsius. What is the change in the temperature during these three hours? Write and solve an equation to show your answer. Then explain what your answer means

Answer 1

To find the change in temperature over the three-hour period from 9 a.m. to noon, we can use the following equation:

\[ \text{Change in temperature} = \text{Temperature at noon} - \text{Temperature at 9 a.m.} \]

We can substitute the values given in the problem:

\[ \text{Change in temperature} = (-1.6) - (-5.8) \]

When we subtract a negative value, we can simplify this to addition:

\[ \text{Change in temperature} = -1.6 + 5.8 \]

Now we can perform the calculation:

\[ -1.6 + 5.8 = 4.2 \]

Thus, the change in temperature over the three hours is \(4.2\) degrees Celsius.

Explanation of the Answer:

The positive result of \(4.2\) degrees Celsius indicates that the air temperature increased by \(4.2\) degrees Celsius from 9 a.m. to noon. In other words, it went from a cold temperature of \(-5.8\) degrees Celsius at 9 a.m. to a less cold temperature of \(-1.6\) degrees Celsius at noon.