Question

A hiker is walking down a mountain. She walked​ 5,978 feet in 17 minutes. In that​ time, she descended​ 1,024 feet from the top of the mountain. She then walked​ 3,972 feet in 7 minutes. In that​ time, she descended 500 more feet. Express the average rate of change in altitude of the hiker from her starting point to her ending point as a unit rate.

Answer 1

63.5 feet/minute

Explanation:

She first descended 1,024 feet in 17 minutes

Then she descended 500 feet in 7 minutes

The total feet descended is 1,024 + 500 = 1,524 feet

The total time to descend is 17 + 7 = 24 minutes

The average rate of change in altitude is

Altitude descended / time

1,524 feet / 24 minutes

63.5 feet /minute