Problema Solution
A certain mountain has an elevation of 19,940 feet. In 1919, the glacier on this peak covered 6 acres. By 2002 this glacier has melted to only 1 acre.
A)Assume that this glacier melted at a constant rate each year. Find this yearly rate.
B) Use your answer from part (a) to write a linear equation that gives acreage A of this glacier t years past 1919
Answer provided by our tutors
A) the period of melting is 2002 - 1919 = 83 years and the quantity of melting if 6 - 1 = 5 acres
thus the yearly rate of melting is v = 5 / 83 acres per year = 0.06 acres per year approximately
B) f(t) = 6 - t*(5/83)
f(t) = 6 - 5t/83
indeed
in 1919 t = 0 years and f(0) = 6 acres
in 2002 t = 83 years and f(83) = 1 acre