Final answer:
The temperature T in relation to the height H above the surface of a distant planet is given by the equation T = -7H + 35, which is in the slope-intercept form of a linear equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asked to relate the temperature T in Celsius to the height H above the surface of a distant planet in kilometers, with a known starting temperature and a linear decrease in temperature per kilometer. To do this, we use the slope-intercept form of a linear equation, y = mx + b, where y is the temperature T, m is the rate of temperature decrease per kilometer (-7°C/km), and b is the initial surface temperature (35°C). Therefore, the equation relating T to H is T = -7H + 35.