Question

Students observing a caterpillar crawl on a tree noticed that the caterpillar crawled upwards 38 of an inch every minute. The caterpillar was already 4.5 feet off the ground when the students began observing.

Which function represents the total number of inches the caterpillar crawls after x minutes?

f(x) = 4.5x + 3/8

f(x) = 54x + 3/8

f(x( = 3/8x + 54

f(x) = 3/8x + 4.5

Answer 1

f(x) = 4.5x + 3/8

Answer 2

Answer: Third Option

`f(x) = (3)/(8)x + 54`

Explanation:

We want to propose an equation that models the distance traveled by the caterpillar as a function of time, we have a constant initial quantity of 4.5 feet and then we know that every minute the caterpillar advances 3/8 of an inch

Then the distance that the caterpillar to advanced after x minutes is:

`f(x) = (3)/(8)x`

Then we know that initially the caterpillar was at a distance of 4.5 feet or 54 inch

Then the equation for the distance in inch is:

`f(x) = (3)/(8)x + 54`