Answer:
The team would need to gain four yards to get back to their original position, prior to the first and second play.
Step-by-step explanation:
First, identify what you know:
1) A football player caught the ball and made a gain of 8 yards on the first play.
2) On the second play the team lost 12 yards.
The best way to describe this problem, would be to imagine a number line. If the team started at 0, and gained 8 yards, they would now be at 8 yards.
0 + 8 = 8
Now, on the second play they lose 12 yards, so subtract 12 from 8!
8 - 12 = (-4)
If they started at 0, what do we need to do add/subtract, to get back to 0?
(-4) + x = 0
(-4) + 4 = 0
x = 4
4 yards
