Lesson 2
Changing Temperatures
Let's add signed numbers.
2.1: Which One Doesn’t Belong: Arrows
Which pair of arrows doesn't belong?
2.2: Warmer and Colder
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Complete the table and draw a number line diagram for each situation.
start () change () final () addition equation a +40 10 degrees warmer +50 b +40 5 degrees colder c +40 30 degrees colder d +40 40 degrees colder e +40 50 degrees colder -
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Complete the table and draw a number line diagram for each situation.
start () change () final () addition equation a -20 30 degrees warmer b -20 35 degrees warmer c -20 15 degrees warmer d -20 15 degrees colder -

For the numbers and represented in the figure, which expression is equal to ?
2.3: Winter Temperatures
One winter day, the temperature in Houston is Celsius. Find the temperatures in these other cities. Explain or show your reasoning.
- In Orlando, it is warmer than it is in Houston.
- In Salt Lake City, it is colder than it is in Houston.
- In Minneapolis, it is colder than it is in Houston.
- In Fairbanks, it is colder than it is in Minneapolis.
- Use the thermometer applet to verify your answers and explore your own scenarios.
Summary
If it is outside and the temperature increases by , then we can add the initial temperature and the change in temperature to find the final temperature.
If the temperature decreases by , we can either subtract to find the final temperature, or we can think of the change as . Again, we can add to find the final temperature.
In general, we can represent a change in temperature with a positive number if it increases and a negative number if it decreases. Then we can find the final temperature by adding the initial temperature and the change. If it is and the temperature decreases by , then we can add to find the final temperature.
We can represent signed numbers with arrows on a number line. We can represent positive numbers with arrows that start at 0 and point to the right. For example, this arrow represents +10 because it is 10 units long and it points to the right.

We can represent negative numbers with arrows that start at 0 and point to the left. For example, this arrow represents -4 because it is 4 units long and it points to the left.

To represent addition, we put the arrows “tip to tail.” So this diagram represents :

And this represents :
