The pet doctor weighs Marc's dog every year. Last year, the dog lost 3.73 pounds from the previous year. This year, the dog gained 1.47 from last year. Which answer represents the total change in the dog's weight in the last 2 years?

-2.26 lb

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the dog's initial weight be d.

Then, one year later, the dog weighs 3.73 lb less, and thus weighed d - 3.73 lb.

During the next year, the dog gained 1.47 lb, so now weighs d - 3.73 + 1.47 lb, or

d - 2.26 lb. This indicates a total weight loss of 2.26 over these two years.