Which of the following could represent a diver's position in relation to the surface of the water after diving into a pool? Select all that apply.
3 meters
-2 meters
-31 meters
$1 \frac{7}{8}$ meters
$-2 \frac{1}{2}$ meters
Answer (1)
The diver's position can be above (positive) or below (negative) the water surface.
3 meters represents a position 3 meters above the surface.
-2 meters represents a position 2 meters below the surface.
1 8 7 meters represents a position 1 8 7 meters above the surface, and − 2 2 1 meters represents a position 2 2 1 meters below the surface. All values are possible.
The possible positions are: 3 meters, -2 meters, -31 meters, 1 8 7 meters, − 2 2 1 meters.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The problem asks us to identify which of the given values could represent a diver's position relative to the surface of the water. The surface is considered the zero point, with positions above the surface being positive and positions below being negative.
Analyzing Each Value Let's analyze each value:
3 meters: This indicates a position 3 meters above the water surface. This is possible, for example, if the diver is standing on a platform before diving.
-2 meters: This indicates a position 2 meters below the water surface. This is a possible position after diving.
-31 meters: This indicates a position 31 meters below the water surface. This is also a possible position, especially in a deep pool or lake.
1 8 7 meters: This indicates a position 1 8 7 meters above the water surface. This is possible, similar to the 3 meters case.
− 2 2 1 meters: This indicates a position 2 2 1 meters below the water surface. This is a possible position after diving.
Conclusion All the given values are possible positions for a diver relative to the water surface, either above or below it.
Examples
Understanding positions relative to a reference point (like the water's surface) is useful in many real-world situations. For example, in hiking, you might describe your position relative to sea level. A position of 100 meters means you are 100 meters above sea level, while a position of -50 meters means you are 50 meters below sea level, such as in a valley or canyon. Similarly, in financial contexts, positive values might represent profits, while negative values represent losses relative to an initial investment.
