Final answer:
The range of a(t) is the set of altitudes the steel beam achieves as it is lifted by the crane, which is from 0 to 30 meters. This range can be written as [0, 30] meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The range of a(t) is the set of values that the function takes as the crane lifts the steel beam. Since the crane moves the beam at a steady rate of 6 meters per minute and it takes 5 minutes to lift the beam 30 meters, we can determine the range of a(t) by evaluating the function from t = 0 to t = 5.
Starting at t = 0, the beam is on the ground, so a(0) = 0 meters. At t = 5 minutes, the beam has been lifted to its maximum altitude, so a(5) = 30 meters. Since the crane is lifting the beam at a constant rate, the altitude increases linearly over time. Thus, the range of a(t) is all the values of altitude from 0 to 30 meters, inclusive.
Therefore, the range of a(t) is [0, 30] meters.