Final answer:
Joe descended 7 feet into the cave. This was calculated by dividing the total temperature drop of 56°F by the temperature drop per foot, which is 8°F.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about calculating how far Joe descended into the cave based on the change in temperature he experienced. Given that the temperature dropped by 56°F and that the temperature drops about 8°F for every foot he descends, we can set up a simple division problem to find the answer.
To find how many feet Joe descended, we divide the total temperature drop by the temperature drop per foot:
Feet descended = Total temperature drop ÷ Temperature drop per foot
Plugging in the given values:
Feet descended = 56°F ÷ 8°F/foot
Feet descended = 7 feet
Therefore, Joe descended 7 feet into the cave.