Interpret negative numbers in context 3 - Reasoning

When exploring the concept of negative numbers in context, students are presented with a reasoning task that requires them to identify the odd one out from a series of numerical expressions. The task includes four different statements: the difference between twenty one and minus nineteen, 46 more than minus four, the difference between 31 and -22, and 13 less than -67. Each of these expressions yields a result, and students are challenged to determine which one stands out based on the nature of its answer.

The key to solving this puzzle lies in understanding the results of each expression. The first three statements all result in positive numbers: the difference between twenty one and minus nineteen is 40, 46 more than minus four is 42, and the difference between 31 and -22 is 53. However, the last statement, 13 less than -67, gives a negative answer, which is -80. This makes it distinct from the others, as it is the only expression that results in a negative number. Therefore, '13 less than -67' is the odd one out, and this is because it is the sole expression with a negative outcome, unlike the rest, which are all positive.