SOLUTION: A thermometer shows a temperature of -4.5℃. A nearby thermometer shows a temperature of -3.5℃. Explain how absolute value can be used to decide which temperature is warmer.

Question 1135847: A thermometer shows a temperature of -4.5℃. A nearby thermometer shows a temperature of -3.5℃. Explain how absolute value can be used to decide which temperature is warmer.
My son knows that -3.5℃ is warmer but doesn't know how to explain using absolute value.Would appreciate your help.
Answer by greenestamps(13200) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

It's hard to know what kind of an answer they are expecting....

The absolute value of a number is its distance from 0. So maybe you could say something like both temperatures are negative but -3.5 is closer to zero than -4.5 and is therefore a warmer temperature.
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