Final answer:
The temperature reading can be determined using the equation of a straight line. By finding the slope and using the starting temperature, we can calculate the temperature reading 5 minutes later.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperature reading of a thermometer as a function of time can be determined using the equation of a straight line.
In this case, we can use the formula for the equation of a straight line: y = mx + b, where y represents the temperature reading, x represents the time, m is the slope, and b is the y-intercept.
Given that the starting temperature is 18 F and the temperature after 1 minute is 31 F, we can find the slope by subtracting the starting temperature from the temperature after 1 minute and dividing it by 1: m = (31 - 18) / 1 = 13.
Using this slope and the starting temperature of 18 F, we can now determine the temperature reading 5 minutes after the thermometer is first brought into the room: y = 13 * 5 + 18 = 65 F.