The Contest (Part 2)

Sunday, November 2, 2008
Part 2 (continued)


The judge called the number 30, It was me

"Guys, It's me!" I said, pointing at the number on my shirt.

"We'll... Good luck!" Karen and Joysie said.

I walked up to the front of the stage, I kept thinking, what if I went wrong ? We would lose the money and the prizes plus I would let my friends down. But I couldn't, I knew I could do this.


"Number 30, we need you to answer two questions and tell us how you did it please." The judge said as if she's been saying it all morning.

"Okay." i said leaning in front of me for the microphone.

"What is the answer for negative twenty-two minus negative ten?"

I knew this question, It was pretty simple. I imagined this picture-

(-22)-(-10)=?

Mr.Harbeck told us about changing the negative into a positive like this-

(-22)+(+10)=?

Now, twenty-two minus 10 equals twelve.. so the answer should be negative twelve!

"The answer is negative twelve, and I got that answer by changing the negatives into positives and adding them."

"Correct, now the next question." She said reading the papers on her desk. " What is the answer for positive two minus negative ten plus positive ten?"

She imagined a picture like this-

(+2)-(-10)+(+10)=?

Now, I would have to deal with the first 2 numbers, and then change the negatives into a positive.

(+2)+(+10)+(+10)=?

(+2)+(+10)=+12

Now, add the remaining integer with the positive twelve.

(+12)+(+10)=+22

The answer is twenty-two!

"Then answer is twenty-two, and I got that by first changing the negatives into positives and then adding the first two numbers which would equal positive twelve, and then add the remaining integer."

"Correct!" The Judge said."You can go now."

I walked back to my chair, my heart beating fast.

Joysie and Karen were both smiling.

"Yaay!" Joysie said happily.

"Soon it will be your turn Karen." I said as I sat down.

"I know." Karen said worried.

I was looking at the crowd and the other kids around me until i stopped and stared at this one girl. Could it be? I thought.

The girl turned around. It was Elmane.

1 comments:

  1. Unknown said...

    Good job lara. I did'nt see any mistakes so i dont know what else to say.

    November 6, 2008 at 5:31 PM  

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