Question

A football team gains $2$ yards on the first play, loses $5$ yards on the second play, loses $3$ yards on the third play and gains $4$ yards on the fourth play. What is the team’s total gain or loss?

• A. A gain of $14$ yards
• B. A gain of $2$ yards
• C. A loss of $2$ yards
• D. A loss of $14$ yards

Answer 1

The correct option is C

A loss of $2$ yards

Explanation:

Given that the team,
Gains $2$ yards $=+2$ [Gain means addition]
Loses $5$ yards $=-5$ [loss means subtraction]
Loses $3$ yards $=-3$
Gains $4$ yards $=+4$
The total gain or loss of yards by the team $=$ sum of all gains and losses

$$\begin{gathered} =\left(+2\right)+\left(-5\right)+\left(-3\right)+\left(+4\right) \\ =2-5-3+4 \\ =\left(2+4\right)+\left(-5-3\right) \\ =6-8 \\ =-2 \end{gathered}$$

Therefore the team's total is a loss in $2$ yards.
Hence, the required correct option is C.