A football team lost five yards on each of two consecutive plays. Find the total change in yardage.

The change is a loss of 10 yards, so - 10 yards.

Step-by-step explanation:

The total change in yardage after 2 plays is the sum of the yardage of each play.

What lost yardage means?

Lost yardage means negative yardage.

Imagine that in a Buffalo Bills game, Devin Singletary lost 2 yards on his first carry. So his total yardage is - 2.

If in the next carry he gets 3 yards, his total yardage is 1. If he loses 1, his total yardage is - 3.

First play

Loss of 5 yards.

So the first play counts for - 5 yards.

Second play

Loss of 5 yards.

So the second play counts for - 5 yards.

Total

-5 - 5 = - 10

The change is a loss of 10 yards, so - 10 yards.