WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Examine the following situations in which you need to find the difference between two amounts.  

1. Rocio has $$298$ saved in the bank, while Thomas has $$314$. What is the difference between their bank balances? How did you get your answer?

   Hint (a):

   Difference is subtracting the smaller number from the larger number.

2. The temperature in Minneapolis on January 10 ranged between $−23°$ and $19°$Fahrenheit. What was the difference between the high and low temperatures for this date? How did you get your answer?

   Hint (b):

   Follow the same steps as part (a).

3. Urban High School has $1850$ students, while Metro High School has $1490$ students. What is the difference of their student populations?

   Hint (c):

   Follow the same steps as parts (a) and (b).

4. Explain why these differences in (a) through (c) are all positive.