Final answer:
To find the number of hours it took for the temperature to drop to 26°F, we set up an equation and solve for 'h'. It took 9 hours for the temperature to reach 26°F.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how many hours the temperature dropped to reach 26°F, we need to determine the difference between the initial temperature (44°F) and the target temperature (26°F), and then divide it by the rate at which the temperature drops per hour (2°F per hour).
Let's represent the number of hours as 'h'.
Equation: 44°F - 2°F/h * h = 26°F
Simplifying the equation gives us: 44°F - 2h = 26°F
Subtracting 44°F from both sides, we have: -2h = -18°F
Dividing both sides by -2, we get: h = 9 hours
Therefore, it took 9 hours for the temperature to drop to 26°F.