Question

A scuba diver is swimming 15 feet below the water’s surface. The diver swims up slowly at 0.5 feet per second for 4 seconds; and then stops to look at an eel. Finally, the diver swims up for 3 more seconds at 0.4 feet per second. What is the diver’s new depth

Answer 1

To find the diver's new depth, we need to find how much the diver has moved up or down from the starting depth.

The diver initially swims up at 0.5 feet per second for 4 seconds, so the diver moves up by 0.5 * 4 = <<0.5*4=2>>2 feet.

After reaching the eel, the diver stops swimming, so the diver does not change depth.

Finally, the diver swims up at 0.4 feet per second for 3 more seconds, so the diver moves up by 0.4 * 3 = <<0.4*3=1.2>>1.2 feet.

The total change in depth for the diver is 2 + 1.2 = <<2+1.2=3.2>>3.2 feet.

Since the diver was initially at a depth of 15 feet, the new depth is 15 - 3.2 = <<15-3.2=11.8>>11.8 feet. Answer: \boxed{11.8}.