Question

checkpoint altitude (feet above sea level) 1 - 127 2 - 29 3 1072 4 2697 5 - 179 (a) compare the altitudes of checkpoint 1 and checkpoint 3 using <, >, or =. - 127 1072 what is the meaning of the inequality above? checkpoint 1 is higher than checkpoint 3. checkpoint 1 is lower than checkpoint 3. (b) compare the altitudes of checkpoint 2 and checkpoint 5 using <, >, or =. - 29 - 179 what is the meaning of the inequality above? checkpoint 2 is higher than checkpoint 5. checkpoint 2 is lower than checkpoint 5.

Explanation:

Step1: Compare -127 and 1072

Negative numbers are less than positive numbers. So, $- 127<1072$. This means Checkpoint 1 (altitude - 127) is lower than Checkpoint 3 (altitude 1072).

Step2: Compare -29 and -179

On the number line, the number which is to the right is greater. Since $-29$ is to the right of $-179$ (because $|-29| = 29$ and $|-179|=179$, and when comparing two negative numbers, the one with the smaller absolute value is larger), so $-29>-179$. This means Checkpoint 2 (altitude - 29) is higher than Checkpoint 5 (altitude - 179).

Answer:

(a) $-127<1072$, Checkpoint 1 is lower than Checkpoint 3.
(b) $-29 > - 179$, Checkpoint 2 is higher than Checkpoint 5.