Question

Bob lost 5 points on page one of his math test and he lost 9 points on page two of his math test. Which equation best describes Bob progress on his math test?

5 + 9 = 14
-5 + (-9) = -14
-5 + (-9) = -4
5 + (-9) = -4

Answer 1

5 + 9 = 14 is the answer, you use addition of the lost points to find out how many points he lost.

Explanation:

Answer 2

-5 + (-9) = -14

Explanation:

We are told in the question that:

Bob lost 5 points on page one of his math test and he lost 9 points on page two of his math test.

To lose a point would mathematically mean that the point lost would carry a negative sign, making that point a negative integer.

Hence, the statement Bob lost 5 points on page one of his math test and he lost 9 points on page two of his math test is expressed Mathematically as:

-5 + (-9)

In Mathematics:

+ (-) = + × - = -

Hence,

-5 + (-9)

= -5 - 9 = -14

Therefore, the equation that best describes Bob progress on his math test is:

-5 + (-9) = -14