Elevation is represented by an integer relative to a reference level, typically sea level: positive integers indicate heights above the reference, negative integers indicate depths below it, and zero identifies the reference level. A vertical number line helps interpret and compare elevations, order them, and distinguish an elevation’s signed position from its distance from the reference level, supporting later work with integers and coordinates.
Elevation tells where something is compared with a reference level, usually sea level.
The sign tells the direction, while the number tells the distance from sea level.
Example: A hill is meters above sea level, and a diver is meters below sea level. Represent and compare their elevations.
Step 1: Write each elevation as an integer.
The hill is above sea level:
The diver is below sea level:
Step 2: Locate the elevations on a vertical number line.
The represents sea level. Positive numbers are above , and negative numbers are below .
Step 3: Compare the elevations.
On a number line, numbers farther to the right are greater. Since is to the right of ,
So, the hill has the greater elevation.
Step 4: Describe each distance from sea level.
The hill is meters from sea level, and the diver is meters from sea level. The diver’s elevation is negative because the diver is below sea level, even though the distance is meters.
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