In the description

Question

Two fish were swimming in a lake trying to catch a fish. The red fish started out 12 feet below the surface. It then descended 20 feet, rose 6 feet, and descended 8 more feet before catching a fish. The blue fish started out 1 foot below the surface. It then descended 10 feet, rose 4 feet, and descended another 14 feet before catching a fish. Which fish caught another fish at a greater depth? Explain.

Answer 1

Ghf, this is where negative numbers come into play.

 

Red fish starts at -12...

 

-12 - 20 + 6 - 8

 

If I start 12 feet under and go down 20 more feet, I'm at -32. Going up 6 feet, I'm at -26. Going down another 8, I end at -34.

 

Blue fish started 1 foot below the surface.

 

-1 - 10 + 4 - 14 = -21

 

The red fish was deeper.