Question

A miner descended 1400 feet into a mine from the mine's entrance. While in the mine, he then rose 800 feet and then descended 450 feet. What was the miner's net gain or loss in altitude from the entrance of the mine?

Answer 1

descended would mean he was -1400 feet from the entrance

he then rose 800 feet so

-1400 + 800 = -600 feet

he then went down 450 feet

-600 - 450 = -1050 feet

net loss was 1050 feet