Question

A hiker begins in a valley at 150 feet below sea level. When the hiker reaches the highest point on the trail, he is 579 feet above sea level. What is the change (in feet) in elevation of the hiker?

Answer 1

We have been given that a hiker begins in a valley at 150 feet below sea level. When the hiker reaches the highest point on the trail, he is 579 feet above sea level. We are asked to find change (in feet) in elevation of the hiker.

To find change in hiker's elevation we will subtract hiker's initial elevation from hiker's elevation at the end of trail.

$\text{Change in elevation}=579--150$

We are subtracting negative 150 because at the beginning of trail hiker was 150 feet below sea level.

$\text{Change in elevation}=579+150$

$\text{Change in elevation}=729$

Therefore, the change in hiker's elevation is 729 feet.