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A 520 pound block of ice melts at 15% per hour. How many pounds of ice is left after 12 hours? (round to nearest tenth)

User Samcorcos
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

74.0 lb

Explanation:

Since 15% melts in 1 hour, after 1 hour, 85% of 520 lb is left.

After each subsequent hour, 85% of the previous weight is left.

Original weight: 520 lb

After 1 hour: 520 lb × 0.85

After 2 hours: 520 lb × 0.85 × 0.85 = 520 × 0.85²

After 3 hours: 520 lb × 0.85² × 0.85 = 520 lb × 0.85³

...

After n hours: 520 lb × 0.85^n

Here, we need the weight after 12 hours, so n = 12.

weight after 12 hours = 520 lb × 0.85^12

weight after 12 hours = 73.96569... lb

Answer: 74.0 lb

User Nickso
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