Certainly! Let's work through the expression step-by-step:
1. We start with an initial temperature of [tex]\(-5\)[/tex] degrees.
2. The expression indicates that there is a change of [tex]\(-4\)[/tex] degrees. Since this change is negative, it signifies a decrease.
So, the question can be analyzed as follows:
- Begin with [tex]\(-5\)[/tex] degrees.
- Decrease the temperature by [tex]\(-4\)[/tex] degrees. Mathematically, this is represented as [tex]\(-5 + (-4)\)[/tex].
If we perform the addition:
[tex]\[
-5 + (-4) = -5 - 4 = -9
\][/tex]
This means the initial temperature was [tex]\(-5\)[/tex] degrees, and it decreased by 4 degrees, leading to a new temperature of [tex]\(-9\)[/tex] degrees.
Given the options:
- The temperature was -5 degrees, then it increased 4 degrees.
- The temperature was -5 degrees, then it decreased 4 degrees.
- The temperature was 5 degrees, then it increased 4 degrees.
- The temperature was 5 degrees, then it decreased 4 degrees.
The correct statement that describes how the temperature changed is:
- The temperature was [tex]\(-5\)[/tex] degrees, then it decreased 4 degrees.
Therefore, the right explanation is:
"The temperature was -5 degrees, then it decreased 4 degrees."
