Question about differences in speeds vs velocities.

[Christie]

Homework Statement

Say we have two objects accelerating differently.
At time T1 object Ahas a velocity of -10 m/s, and at T2 it has a velocity of 3 m/s
At time T1 object B has a velocity of -5 m/s, and at T2 it has a velocity of 7 m/s/

If I am asked to rank both the difference in speed and the difference in their velocities at T1 and T2 from least to greatest, how would I do this. Would these rankings be the same?

Homework Equations

Difference= T1B-T1A

The Attempt at a Solution

[/B]
So, for this problem I was mainly confused about direction.
The Difference for T1 in velocity is 5 m/s while for speed it is -5 m/s.
For T2 differences the velocity difference is 4 m/s while the speed difference is 4 m/s.
When I rank the velocity differences, I've been told that from least to greatest it would me -10m/s, 5 m/s.

The logic behind this was due to -5 speed having a negative direction.
However, I found this odd because even if -5m/s is in the say left direction it is still technically larger than 4 m/s. Can anyone clear this up? Thanks.

 

[EastWindBreaks]

velocity is the speed+ direction, speed wise, a velocity of an object with -5m/s will have a greater speed than a speed of another object at 4m/s.

 

[haruspex]

difference in their velocities

I am not sure what this means. "Difference" is usually unsigned, because it does not specify which is to be subtracted from which. E.g.:
Velocities +4, +5; difference 1
Velocities +5, +4; difference 1
Velocities +4, -5; difference 9

But that makes the answers to this question uninteresting.
Are you sure you have quoted it word-for-word?