Question

a hot air balloon descended 99.6 meters in 12 seconds. what was th balloon's average rate of descent in meters per second?

Answer 1

(99.6meters/12 seconds)

Answer 2

Remember that descent is negative, ascent is positive.

Write the fraction -99.6 meters / 12 seconds.  Perform the arithmetic:

-8.3 meters per second, or -8 3/10 meters per second.