An express elevator starts on the 5th floor and descends 8 floors. Which equation shows the correct computation for finding the elevator's stop?

A. [tex]\( -5 + (-8) = -13 \)[/tex]
B. [tex]\( 5 + (-8) = -3 \)[/tex]
C. [tex]\( 5 + (-8) = 3 \)[/tex]
D. [tex]\( 5 + 8 = 13 \)[/tex]



Answer :

Let's solve the problem step-by-step:

1. Identify the starting floor:
- The express elevator starts on the 5th floor.

2. Determine the number of floors the elevator descends:
- The elevator descends 8 floors. A descent indicates movement downwards, which corresponds to a subtraction operation or the movement in a negative direction.

3. Set up the equation to calculate the stopping floor:
- We start at the 5th floor and then move down 8 floors.
- This can be represented mathematically as: [tex]\( 5 + (-8) \)[/tex].

4. Perform the calculation:
- Adding a negative number is equivalent to subtraction.
- So, [tex]\( 5 + (-8) \)[/tex] simplifies to [tex]\( 5 - 8 \)[/tex].
- [tex]\( 5 - 8 \)[/tex] equals [tex]\( -3 \)[/tex].

Therefore, the correct equation and computation is [tex]\( 5 + (-8) = -3 \)[/tex].

Among the given options, the correct one is:
[tex]\[5 + (-8) = -3\][/tex]