Question

A hot air balloon descends to the ground. The function a(t) = 210 – 15t can be used to describe the altitude of the balloon as it approaches the ground. The time is in minutes

Answer 1

Answer – C. (The graph is continuous because there can be fractional values for time) First we must understand that there can be fractional values for time; time can take on any value value within a finite or infinite interval, and as such is a continuous variable. Therefore, the graph is continuous.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

See Explanation

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

`a(t) = 210 - 5t`

The attachment completes the question.

(a): What does t represent

t represents the time in minutes

(b): What does a(t) represent

This represents the altitude of the balloon at time t

(c): What information will a(5.5) give?

The information it will give is the altitude of the balloon at 5.5 minutes

And this altitude is calculated as follows

Substitute 5.5 for t in
`a(t) = 210 - 5t`

`a(5.5) = 210 - 5 * 5.5`

`a(5.5) = 210 - 27.5`

`a(5.5) = 182.5`

The balloon will be at an altitude of 182.5 at 5.5 minutes