Question

Some scientists believe that the average surface temperature of the world has been rising steadily. The

average surface temperature can be modeled by
T = 0.02t + 15.0
where T is temperature in °C and t is years since 1950.
(a) What do the slope and T-intercept represent?
(b) Use the equation to predict the average global surface
temperature in 2050.

Answer 1

Explanation:

(a) In the equation T = 0.02t + 15.0, the slope (0.02) represents the rate of change in temperature per year, which is the amount by which the temperature is expected to increase each year. The T-intercept (15.0) represents the temperature in °C at the beginning of the time period being considered, which in this case is the year 1950.

(b) To predict the average global surface temperature in 2050, we need to find the value of T when t = 2050 - 1950 = 100 (since t is measured in years since 1950).

Substituting t = 100 into the equation, we get:

T = 0.02(100) + 15.0 = 17.0

Therefore, the predicted average global surface temperature in 2050 is 17.0 °C.