The seal's depth is represented as − 25 feet.
The sea lion's depth is 10 feet less than three times the seal's depth.
The expression for the sea lion's depth is 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 .
Therefore, the correct expression is 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 .
Explanation
Problem Analysis Let's analyze the problem. The seal's depth is 25 feet below sea level, which we can represent as -25. The sea lion dives 10 feet less than three times the seal's depth. We need to find the expression that represents the sea lion's position.
Setting up the expression Let the seal's position be s = − 25 feet. The sea lion's position is 10 feet less than three times the seal's depth, which can be expressed as 3 s − 10 .
Substitution Substitute s = − 25 into the expression 3 s − 10 to get 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 .
Final Expression The expression representing the sea lion's position is 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 .
Examples
Understanding relative positions below sea level can be useful in marine biology. For example, if you're studying the feeding habits of different marine animals, knowing their typical diving depths helps you understand their ecological roles. If a seal dives to − 25 feet and a sea lion dives to 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 = − 85 feet, you know the sea lion is exploring a much deeper part of the ocean. This helps in mapping out the food web and understanding species interactions.
The sea lion's position relative to sea level can be expressed as 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 . This represents a depth of 85 feet below sea level, calculated as three times the seal's depth minus 10 feet. Therefore, the correct expression is 3 ( − 25 ) − 10 .
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