Final answer:
The rate of erosion is not a dependable way to determine the age of the Grand Canyon because the canyon formed over millions of years with varying rates of erosion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate of erosion is not a dependable way to determine the age of the Grand Canyon because the formation of the canyon took place over millions of years and the rates of erosion may have varied greatly.
According to geologists, the Grand Canyon started to form between 5 million and 70 million years ago. The Colorado River, which cut through the stratigraphy, established its course through the canyon about six million years ago. The canyon has been shaped by various geologic processes, including erosion of tributaries and active tectonics, which continue to shape it today.
Because the Grand Canyon is a result of long-term geological processes, attempting to determine its age solely based on current rates of erosion would be unreliable.