Temperature Difference

Temperature difference: how to solve it

When you compare two temperatures, the difference tells you how far apart they are. The key idea is to subtract the smaller temperature from the larger one. This gives a nonnegative result that represents the size of the gap.

1) Identify the two temperatures

Read both values carefully, including any minus signs. A negative temperature is still a valid number, so treat it as part of the value.

2) Find the larger value

To get the difference, think of the temperatures on a number line. The answer is the distance between them, so order does not matter for the final size of the difference.

3) Subtract

Use:

• larger temperature − smaller temperature

If one temperature is negative, subtraction may turn into adding, for example when comparing a positive and a negative temperature.

4) Simplify the result

Write the final answer in simplest form. For temperature differences, this usually means a single number with the correct unit.

Check your work

• If the temperatures are equal, the difference should be 0.
• The answer should never be negative when you are asked for a difference.
• You can reverse the subtraction and check that the same distance is found.

Keep the focus on the size of the gap, not on which temperature came first.