Question

A hot air balloon went from an elevation of 5,038 feet to an elevation of 3,403 feet in 30 minutes. What was its rate of descent? The rate of the descent was ( ) feet per minute.

Answer 1

Explanation:

In this case, we have a descent of 2,125 feet (initial height of 5,439 - ending height of 3,314). Since it took 34 minutes for the balloon to descend this distance, we divide the descent by the time (2,125/34). This gives us a rate of 62.5 feet per minute.

That means that the balloon traveled downward 62.5 feet every minute.