Question

A bird traveling toward the ground is changing its altitude by an average of −5 feet per second. At this rate, what is the bird's total change in altitude in 6 seconds?

a −11 feet
b −30 feet
c 11 feet
d 30 feet

Answer 1

b: -30 feet

Explanation:

Process of elimination. the answer must end in 5 or 0, because we are moving at a rate of -5, and any multiple of 5 or -5 ends in 0 or 5. this eliminates a or c. the answer must be negative because we need the TOTAL change in altitude, and we are traveling towards the ground, which eliminates d. (i may be mistaken, and the wording actually means you are travelling "towards" the ground but the negative means you are going in the opposite direction of the ground, in which case the answer is d: 30 feet)