Question

On the next play , the team gained $5$ yards and then lost $6$ yards. What is the total change in the yards?

Answer 1

Hint: For this particular problem we have to make sure that when a team gains some yards then it is considered with a positive sign , and when a team loses some yards then it is considered with a negative sign. Here , we have no or zero yards in advance. For solving this particular problem , using the simple principle which says that , if we have the opposite direction then it must be considered with a negative sign. So, simply we have to let gain as positive and lost be negative .

Complete step by step solution:
Let us we have no yards in advance,
Now according to the question , the team gained $5$ yards .
Mathematically we represent this as ,
$ \Rightarrow + 5$
After gaining , the team lost $6$ yards.
Mathematically we represent this as ,
$
   \Rightarrow + 5 - 6 \\
   \Rightarrow - 1 \\
 $
At the end ,teams have $ - 1$ yards.
Negative sign represents lost yards.
So, the team is one yard behind its starting position.
The total change is lost $1$ yards.

Note:Lost by the team is represented by a negative sign.
Gain by the team is represented by positive signs.
In this particular question , we have no or zero yards in advance. But in many cases we do have some yards in advance may be as positive or negative. If it is not given in question then by default we consider that there are no yards in advance.