Question

A diver begins at 150 feet below sea level, descends at a steady rate of 5 feet per minute for 3.5 minutes, and then ascends 122.2 feet. What is the diver’s current depth? Explain how to write a numerical expression to find the answer.

Answer 1

Sample Response: The diver begins at -150 feet and then descends at 5 feet/minute for 3.5 minutes, which could be represented by (-5)(3.5). The diver then ascends 122.2 feet, which is a positive number. The expression would be -150 + (-5)(3.5) + 122.2. Using order of operations, you get that the diver’s current depth is 45.3 feet below sea level.

Explanation:

Answer 2

The answer is -45.3 feet depth. while minus sign shows the descend under the water with water surface as starting point.

Step-by-step explanation:

Initial depth of diver under the water = -150 feet

Diver descends 5 feet per minute for 3.5 minutes = 3.5 *(-5)

= 17.5

Note: minus sign shows that the diver is under the water.

Diver ascends = 122.2 feet

Now adding all the terms a below as a numerical expression.

Current Depth of Diver after he descends 5 feet for 3.5 minutes and ascend 122.2 feet after =150=17.5+122.2

=45.3feet

By taking the initial depth of diver from which we add or subtract the changes made when he ascends or descends in the water to get the current depth.