Interpret negative numbers in context - Reasoning

In a practical application of negative numbers, students are presented with a scenario involving a lift's journey between floors. The lift initially begins on the first floor and then travels upwards by seven floors. Subsequently, it descends by nine floors. The task for the students is to determine the final floor at which the lift arrives after completing these movements. This exercise serves to contextualize negative numbers and their use in everyday situations.

The possible outcomes for the lift's final position are listed as Floor 1, Ground floor, Floor -1, and Floor -2. To solve this, students must apply their understanding of number sequences and the concept of negative numbers. By adding seven to the starting point (first floor) and then subtracting nine, they can calculate the lift's ending floor. This reasoning task not only reinforces the concept of negative numbers but also helps students to visualize and interpret them within a real-life context, such as the levels of a building.