A heated piece of metal cools according to the function c(x) = (.5)x − 11, where x is measured in hours. A device is added that aids in cooling according to the function h(x) = −x − 3. What will be the temperature of the metal after five hours?

Answer 1

I don't believe that c(x) is correct as stated. It means that c(x) increases with time, not likely for a cooling piece of metal.

So, either c(x) does not represent the metal's temperature after x hours, or it indicates how many degrees it has cooled. In either case, c(x) and h(x) appear to oppose each other.