Question

An elevator went up 15 floors, down 9 floors, up 11 floors, and down 19 floors. Find the net change. Show work using a number line.

Answer 1

Start at zero on your number line.
To add 15 floors, we count up to 15. (0+15=15)
Then we go down 9 floors...count 9 down and you'll get to 6. (15-9=6)
Then we go up 11 floors...count up 11 and you'll get to 17. (6+11=17)
Then down 19 floors...count down 19 and you end up at -2.  (17-19=-2)
The net change is 2 floors down.