Question

Camp Wildhorse Ridge has a new zip line for summer campers. A rider gets on the zip line 30 feet above ground and descends about 3 feet for every 100 feet of horizontal distance traveled. You can use a function to describe the rider's approximate height above ground after traveling a horizontal distance of x feet.
Write an equation for the function. If it is linear, write it in the form f(x)=mx+b. If it is exponential, write it in the form f(x)=a(b)x.

Answer 1

The descent is linear. The height f(x) (in feet) after traveling x feet horizontally is

f(x) = 30 − (3/100)x = −0.03x + 30.

(You reach the ground when f(x)=0, at x = 1000 ft.)