Explain how the change for the 10-year period can be negative?

Question

In a recent 10-year period, the change in the number of visitors to U.S. National Parks was about -11,150,000 visitors. During the seventh year, the change in the number of visitors was about 10,800,00.

Answer 1

Change in any quantity is calculated as the value in the current year subtracted by the value in the previous year.

 

In this case, change in number of visitors to the national park is calculated as

(number of visitors in the current year) - (number of visitors in the previous year)

 

If the number of visitors this year was less than that in the previous year, the Change can be negative.