Question

At 6:00 p.m. the temperature was –5°F outside. By midnight the temperature had dropped 12 degrees. What was the temperature at midnight?
A. –7°F
B. –17°F
C. 17°F

Answer 1

-5 - 12 = -17

Starts at -5 degrees, then it drops another 12, so you subtract 12 from -5.

Answer 2

The question says that the temprature at 6 PM , was -5° F, and at midnight the temperature dropped 12 degrees.

Now here dropping of temperature means that the temperature goes down , or we can say that goes more negative.

Now at 6 PM temperature was -5, and at midnight it dropped by 12 degrees

So At midnight the temperature was ,....

we subtract 12 degrees from -5 degrees

-5-12 = -17 degrees

So answer is -17°F