Negatif or positif

Craig 1,25m swimming underwater. Matt is on the board of 2m . How far are they from each other?

I did 2--1.25= 2+-1.25= 3.25m

Is it right?

 

The answer is right but the working is wrong

If you want difference between two things it is is always the big one take away the little one

 

Above the water is positive distance form the water line. Below the watere is negative 

It is like a sideways number line with the water level set at zero.

 

Matt is at    +2 metres

Craid is at   -1.25 metres                     (negative numbers are always smaller than positive numbers)

so the distance between them is

 

(+2) - (-1.25) or just    2- - 1.25   so far what you did is perfect.

 

you can think of negative numbers as cold numbers becasue if the temerature is negative it is very cold.

 

so    - -  means take away cold air out of a room.  If you take away some oth the cold air then the room MUST get hotter.

so   - -  = +

 

2- - 1.25 = 2+1.25 = 3.25 metres.

I'm not sure why there's a " - " sign stuck in between " 2+-1.25 "

 

but other than that, you are absolutely correct!

 

2 - (-1.25) = 2 + 1.25 = 3.25