Due to excessive heat, the water level in a dam decreased by 8.8 meters last month. Now, the water level is 95.3 meters. Which equation represents the water level, w

Question

, of the dam last month? What was the water level last month?(1 point)
Responses

w + 8.8 = 95.3
; the water level of the dam last month was 86.5 meters.
w plus 8.8 equals 95.3 ; the water level of the dam last month was 86.5 meters.

w − 8.8 = 95.3
; the water level of the dam last month was 104.1 meters.
w minus 8.8 equals 95.3 ; the water level of the dam last month was 104.1 meters.

w + 95.3 = 8.8
; the water level of the dam last month was 104.1 meters.
w plus 95.3 equals 8.8 ; the water level of the dam last month was 104.1 meters.

w − 95.3 = 8.8
; the water level of the dam last month was 86.5 meters.

Answer 1

To find the equation that represents the water level of the dam last month (let's denote it as \( w \)), we know that the current water level is 95.3 meters, and it decreased by 8.8 meters due to heat.

To express this mathematically, we can say:

\[ w - 8.8 = 95.3 \]

This means that if we take the water level last month ( \( w \) ) and subtract the decrease of 8.8 meters, we end up with the current water level of 95.3 meters.

Now, to find the water level last month (\( w \)), we can rearrange the equation:

\[ w = 95.3 + 8.8 \]

Calculating that:

\[ w = 95.3 + 8.8 = 104.1 \]

So, the correct equation is:

\( w - 8.8 = 95.3 \); the water level of the dam last month was 104.1 meters.