Question

Chike measures the change in temperature (in degrees Celsius) of a mixture during an experiment. Complete the sentences to describe a situation that we can represent with the expression -20 - (-50). In this situation, the temperature of the mixture decreased by 20 degrees Celsius and then increased by 50 degrees Celsius.

Answer 1

The expression -20 - (-50) represents a situation where the temperature of a mixture first decreases by 20 degrees Celsius and then increases by 50 degrees Celsius, resulting in a net change of 30 degrees Celsius increase.

Step-by-step explanation:

To describe a situation with the expression -20 - (-50), imagine that during Chike's experiment, the temperature of the mixture is initially decreased by 20 degrees Celsius, representing a cooling effect. Now, if we want to consider a subsequent increase in temperature, we can represent this by subtracting a negative number. So, when the temperature then increases by 50 degrees Celsius, it's like adding a positive 50 degrees to the mixture. The whole expression can be seen as subtracting a negative, which is the same as adding the absolute value of that negative number. Thus, -20 - (-50) translates to a net change of 30 degrees Celsius increase in the temperature of the mixture.

Answer 2

The expression -20 - (-50) represents a situation where the temperature of the mixture initially decreased by 20 degrees Celsius and then increased by 50 degrees Celsius.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expression -20 - (-50) can be interpreted by considering the change in temperature of a mixture during an experiment. The first part, -20, signifies a decrease in temperature by 20 degrees Celsius. The second part, -(-50), can be simplified to +50, indicating an increase in temperature by 50 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the complete expression -20 - (-50) represents the net change in temperature, taking into account both the decrease and subsequent increase.

To illustrate this, let's consider the initial temperature of the mixture. If the temperature started at, for example, 25 degrees Celsius, applying the decrease of 20 degrees Celsius results in 5 degrees Celsius. Then, adding the subsequent increase of 50 degrees Celsius brings the final temperature to 55 degrees Celsius. Thus, the expression captures the net change in temperature during the experiment.

Understanding expressions like -20 - (-50) is essential in real-world scenarios, such as experimental settings where temperature changes are measured. It allows for the accurate representation of the overall change in a variable and helps in analyzing the impact of different factors on the system under consideration. In this case, Chike could use such expressions to precisely quantify the fluctuations in temperature during his experiments.