The football team lost four yards and then gained nine yards. what is the total change in yards

If we put this into an equation it will make this easier. Lost four would stand for negative four or -4. Gained nine would plus or positive nine or 9. Put this together we get the following equation: 9-4
From there you can get the answer easily since that is like 1st grade math. The answer is that the total change is 5 yards. 

Ok lets do the math the subject is subtracting!

  9
- 4

5      you can use your fingers to subtract it or you can use paper hope this helps

Absolute value graph shifted point 5 up