a running back carries the ball five times find his total yardage if the carries are 8, -3, -1, 16, and 15 yards

Question

anonymous · Answer

8 -3-1+16+15 = 35.

anonymous · Answer

how do you get the answer, if you dont mind showing me

anonymous · Answer

The carries represent the yardage.  Consider it like a number line, if you have to.  

After the first carry, the runningback is 8 yards ahead--therefore; they are 8 yards past the origin.  When you have negative yardage, you are subtracting.  So the negative 3 and negative 1 are subtractions.  Then you add the other factors, the 15 and 16.  

If you have the patience and aren't quite understanding it, draw up a number line.