Question

Consider a building with 20 stairs above ground level and 20 stairs below ground level. Considering ground level as zero, if you are standing at 16^th step below ground level, how will you represent it?

• A. You are at +16^th step.
• B. You are at -16^th step.
• C. You are at some step which you don't know.
• D. You are at 4^th step.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

You are at -16^th step.

Assume the stairs to be a number line and ground level as zero. The stairs above ground level are considered positive and the stairs below the ground level are considered negative. So, if you are standing at the 16^th step below the ground, it can be represented as -16.