Question

The scuba diver is at -38 feet. The diver begins to move at -12 feet per minute. Write and solve an inequality that shows how long it would take a diver to reach an altitude greater than -200 feet.

How ?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let's represent the time it takes for the diver to reach an altitude greater than -200 feet as

�

t (in minutes). The initial altitude is -38 feet, and the diver descends at a rate of -12 feet per minute.

The inequality representing this situation would be:

−

38

−

12

�

>

−

200

−38−12t>−200

Now, let's solve for

�

t:

−

12

�

>

−

200

+

38

−12t>−200+38

−

12

�

>

−

162

−12t>−162

Divide both sides by -12 (and remember to reverse the inequality sign when dividing by a negative number):

�

<

162

12

t<

12

162

​

Simplify:

�

<

13.5

t<13.5

So, it would take the diver less than 13.5 minutes to reach an altitude greater than -200 feet.