Question

Kari and Samantha have determined that their water-balloon launcher works best when they launch the balloon at an angle within 3 degrees of 45 degrees. Which equation can be used to determine the minimum and maximum optimal angles of launch, and what is the minimum angle that is still optimal?

|x – 3| = 45; minimum angle: 42 degrees
|x – 3| = 45; minimum angle: 45 degrees
|x – 45| = 3; minimum angle: 42 degrees
|x – 45| = 3; minimum angle: 45 degrees

Answer 1

|x − 45| = 3; minimum angle: 42 degrees

Because "within 3 degrees of 45°" means the distance from 45 is 3: |x−45|=3, so x = 45 ± 3 → min = 42°, max = 48°.