Question

the following equation describes this situation.
$1\frac{1}{2} + \left(-12\frac{1}{2}\
ight) = -11$
what does $-12\frac{1}{2}$ tell us?
choose 1 answer:
a the drop from ground level to the bottom of the well was $12\frac{1}{2}$ meters.
b the drop from the top of the well to the bottom of the well was $12\frac{1}{2}$ meters.
c the penny stopped $12\frac{1}{2}$ meters below the bottom of the well.

Explanation:

In the context of the well - related situation (implied by the options), the term \(-12\frac{1}{2}\) represents a downward (negative direction) drop. Option A refers to ground level, but the equation likely relates to the well's top to bottom. Option C says the penny stopped below the bottom, which doesn't match the negative sign's meaning here (the negative sign here is for the drop from the top of the well to the bottom). Option B correctly interprets \(-12\frac{1}{2}\) as the drop (downward, hence the negative) from the top of the well to the bottom of the well being \(12\frac{1}{2}\) meters.

Answer:

B. The drop from the top of the well to the bottom of the well was \(12\frac{1}{2}\) meters.