Write a word problem from equation

Question

The equation is -7 + x = -16. How do you create a word problem for this equation? We are stumped and need some help.

Answer 1

All you are doing when you create a word problem is thinking of a situation where the numbers involved makes sense. I find the easiest thing with positive and negative numbers is using money. So, if I owed you 7 dollars (-7), and then you loaned me x more dollars (whatever x is), I would now owe you 16 dollars (-16).

If you want to solve it, just figure out how much more you loaned me. -7 + x = -16. Add 7 to both sides of the equation, and you get x=-9. You kindly loaned me another 9 dollars, even though I already owed you 7, so now I owe you 16.