On three consecutive passes, a football team gains 6 yards, loses 40 yards, and gains 31 yards. What number represents the total net yardage?

I get -3, but that can't be right, can it?

Question

On three consecutive passes, a football team gains 6 yards, loses 40 yards, and gains 31 yards. What number represents the total net yardage?

I get -3, but that can't be right, can it?

anonymous · Answer

You are correct....

6 - 40 + 31   = -3

What it means is that you ended up three yards behind the original line of scrimmage... it would be 4th down and 13.

anonymous · Answer

lol, I'm a basketball girl so this didn't make sense to me! I know nothing about football! lol!

anonymous · Answer

Well.. the answer is -3...   it would be like starting on the half court line... if you walk 6 steps towards one basket and then walk backwards 40 steps and then forward 31 steps you would be 3 steps behind the half court line where you started.   The where you started is the 0 on the number line  so you would be at -3.

anonymous · Answer

ok, i get that. thx!