Sea level is considered to be 0 feet. A probe released at sea level dropped at a constant rate for 3.25 minutes, reaching an elevation of −35.75 feet relative to sea level.

What was the probe's elevation relative to sea level after the first minute?

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feet

1 answer

The probe's elevation after the first minute can be calculated by finding the change in elevation in the first minute.

Since the probe dropped at a constant rate, we can assume that it dropped the same amount each minute.

So, after the first minute, the probe would have dropped 1 minute's worth of its total drop in 3.25 minutes.

To find this drop, we can divide the total drop by the total time and multiply it by 1 minute:

Drop per minute = (−35.75 feet) / (3.25 minutes) * (1 minute) = -11 feet.

Therefore, the probe's elevation relative to sea level after the first minute is 0 feet - 11 feet = -11 feet. Answer: \boxed{-11}.