Question

In the first four plays of a football game, 8 yards were lost, 5 yards were gained, 3 yards were gained, and 4 yards were gained. What was the total number of yards lost or gained after the first four plays? Did the team gain the necessary 10 yards for the first down? If not, how many more yards would they have to have gained?

Answer 1

First Part

The total number of yards lost after the first four plays:

Lost: 8 or -8.

Gained:

+5 + 3 + 4 = +12

Second Part

The total yards gained were

+ 12 - 8 = 4

They did not the necessary 10 yards

Third Part

They have to gain:

4 + x = 10

Subtracting -4 to both sides of the equation:

4 - 4 + x = 10 - 4

0 + x = 6

x = 6

They would have to have gained 6 more yards.