Question

The New Horizons space probe was launched on January 19, 2006. Assume that New Horizons travels in a straight line, perpendicular to the launch site. An equation used to model the relationship between the distance, y, in miles, from Earth to New Horizons and the number of hours since being launched, x, is y=32,500x. Part A What is the meaning of the slope of the line defined by this equation? A New Horizons travels 32,500 hours after its launch. B New Horizons travels 32,500 miles per hour. C New Horizons travels 32,500 miles every day. D New Horizons travels 32,500 miles from Earth. ​ Part B What is the distance, in miles, from Earth to New Horizons 2.5 hours after it is launched? The distance from Earth to New Horizons is miles.

Answer 1

The slope of the equation “y=32,500x” means that the probe travels at a speed of 32,500 miles per hour.

The distance of the probe after 2.5 hours of its launch is 81,250 miles from the surface of the Earth.

Explanation:

Since the probe takes of perpendicularly which is represented by “y”. The unit of y is in miles as given in the question. The time is given by “x” in hours. The distance that the probe travels is given by the equation y=32,500x

This means that the probe would travel the distance of “y” in “x” hours. Hence the slope denotes the speed of the probe in miles/hour meaning probe travels at a speed of 32,500 miles per hour.

Now the distance of probe after 2.5 hour

We know that y=32,500x

Substituting value of x as 2.5we get y as 81,250 miles