A fish is hovering at -320 feet in relation to sea level. Then it descends 2 feet per second for 8 seconds. Brenda says that the new position of the fish in relation to sea level is represented by the equation below.
[tex]$2 \times 8+(-320)=336$[/tex]

Which explains whether Brenda is correct?

A. Brenda is correct because her answer represents 336 feet below sea level.
B. Brenda is correct because [tex]$-16+(-320)=336$[/tex].
C. Brenda is not correct because the new position is [tex]$2 \times 8+(-320)=-304$[/tex].
D. Brenda is not correct because the equation should be [tex]$-2 \times 8+(-320)=-336$[/tex].

Calculate the total distance the fish descends: 2 × 8 = 16 feet.
Account for the direction of descent: − 16 feet.
Calculate the new position: − 320 + ( − 16 ) = − 336 feet.
Brenda is not correct because the equation should be − 2 × 8 + ( − 320 ) = − 336 .
Brenda is not correct because the equation should be − 2 × 8 + ( − 320 ) = − 336 ​

Explanation

Problem Analysis Let's analyze the problem. The fish starts at -320 feet. It descends 2 feet per second for 8 seconds. Descending means moving in the negative direction. We need to find the final position of the fish.

Calculate the Distance Descended First, calculate the total distance the fish descends. Since it descends 2 feet per second for 8 seconds, the total distance descended is: 2 feet/second × 8 seconds = 16 feet Since the fish is descending, this distance should be represented as -16 feet.

Calculate the New Position Now, we need to add this change in position to the initial position of the fish, which was -320 feet. So, the new position is: − 320 + ( − 16 ) = − 336 feet Brenda's equation is 2 × 8 + ( − 320 ) = 336 , which is incorrect because it does not account for the direction of the descent. The correct equation should be − 2 × 8 + ( − 320 ) = − 336 .

Conclusion Brenda is not correct because the equation should be − 2 × 8 + ( − 320 ) = − 336 .


Examples
Imagine a submarine is at a depth of 500 feet below sea level. If it descends an additional 50 feet, we can use the same math to find its new depth: -500 + (-50) = -550 feet. This type of calculation is useful in many real-world scenarios involving changes in position relative to a reference point, such as altitude changes in aviation or tracking financial gains and losses.

Answered by GinnyAnswer | 2025-07-05