To find the rate of change in the squirrel's height above the ground, we can use the formula for rate of change:
\[ \text{Rate of change} = \frac{\text{change in height}}{\text{time taken}} \]
- Initial height: The squirrel starts at a height of 100 feet.
- Final height: The squirrel moves down to a height of 45 feet.
Now, calculate the change in height:
\[ \text{Change in height} = \text{final height} - \text{initial height} = 45 \text{ feet} - 100 \text{ feet} = -55 \text{ feet} \]
Next, we convert this change in height to a rate:
\[ \text{Time taken} = 5.25 \text{ seconds} \]
So the rate of change is:
\[ \text{Rate of change} = \frac{-55 \text{ feet}}{5.25 \text{ seconds}} \approx -10.48 \text{ feet/second} \]
Thus, the correct interpretation of this quotient is that the squirrel's height above the ground is decreasing at a rate of approximately -10.48 feet/second.
Therefore, the answer is:
The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel's height above the ground is -10.48 feet/second.