Question

TEST Unit 3B
Aaron Medina
#4.
The table shows the linear relationship between the elevation in feet of an airplane as it descends and the number of minutes.

Number of Minutes
Elevation (ft)
2
29,000
4
26,000
7
21,500
12
14,000
What is the rate of change of the elevation of the airplane with respect to the number of minutes since the plane started its descent?


900
1 , 200
1 , 500
1 , 800

Answer 1

To find the rate of change of the elevation of the airplane with respect to the number of minutes, we can compute the change in elevation divided by the change in time (minutes).

Let's consider the elevation at two points: when the plane is at 29,000 feet (at 0 minutes, which we can assume is the start since it’s not given in the table) and then at the first given time:

1. From 29,000 feet to 26,000 feet:
- Change in elevation: 29,000 - 26,000 = 3,000 feet
- Time taken: 4 - 2 = 2 minutes
- Rate of change = Change in elevation / Change in time = 3,000 ft / 2 min = 1,500 ft/min

2. From 26,000 feet to 21,500 feet:
- Change in elevation: 26,000 - 21,500 = 4,500 feet
- Time taken: 7 - 4 = 3 minutes
- Rate of change = 4,500 ft / 3 min = 1,500 ft/min

3. From 21,500 feet to 14,000 feet:
- Change in elevation: 21,500 - 14,000 = 7,500 feet
- Time taken: 12 - 7 = 5 minutes
- Rate of change = 7,500 ft / 5 min = 1,500 ft/min

In all cases, the rate of change of the elevation of the airplane with respect to the number of minutes since the plane started its descent is consistently 1,500 feet per minute.

Therefore, the answer is **1,500**.