Question

A Candlestick burns at a rate of 0.2 inches per hour. After 8 straight hours of burning , the candlestick is 13.4 inches tall. Write and solve a linear equation to find the original height of the candle.

Answer 1

Linear Equation: y=0.2x+15 or y-13.4=0.2(x+8)

Answer: 15

Explanation:

So since the slope would be 0.2, the equation would be y-13.4=0.2(x+8), but if you simplify, you get y=0.2x+15. If you plug in 0 because it is the original time, it would be y=15 which means the height is 15.

Answer 2

Answer:the original height of the candle is 14.8 inches

Explanation:

A Candlestick burns at a rate of 0.2 inches per hour. It means that the height of the candle is decreasing by 2 inches per hour. This decrease is in arithmetic progression. The formula for determining the nth term of an arithmetic sequence is expressed as

Tn = a + (n - 1)d

Where

a represents the first term of the sequence.

d represents the common difference.

n represents the number of terms in the sequence.

From the information given,

d = - 0.2 (it is decreasing)

n = 8

T8 = 13.4 inches

We want to determine the value of the first term, a. Therefore,

13.4 = a - 0.2(8 - 1)

13.4 = a - 1.4

a = 13.4 + 1.4 = 14.8 inches