When asked to calculate the difference between a & b, is it always going to be written like this: a - b ? ex. 1.42 - 1.53 = -11

Question

When asked to calculate the difference between a & b, is it always going to be written like this:   a - b ?   ex. 1.42 - 1.53 = -11
Thanks for your help :)

Answer 1

No !

 

By convention (or by assumption), introductory problems calculate the difference from a to b as (b-a).

 

So, for example, "Q: The temperature rose from 50 degrees to 64 degrees.  How much did it change?"  A: it rose 14 degrees.  That is 64-50.

 

More specifically, the absolute value of the difference, that is |b-a|, expresses the net change.  It is given a sign to represent positive or negative change -- we often include words like "increase/decrease, rose/fell, higher/lower, credit/debit," etc. or just include the "-" sign.