Question

There is a leak in a container that holds a certain nontoxic gas. Each hour, it loses 10% of its volume.

Write an equation that models the amount of gas left in the container after x hours, assuming there were 300 cubic centimeters in the container before the leak. Then use your equation to determine the amount of gas left in the container after 11 hours. Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

Answer 1

94.1 cm^3 to nearest tenth.

Explanation:

Each hour 100 - 10 = 90% of the gas remains.

90% = 0.90.

At 0 hours the volume = 300 cm^3

The equation is

Amount (V) after x hours = 300(0.90)^x.

The amount after 11 hours:

V = 300(0.90)^11

= 94.14

Answer 2

y = 300(0.9)^x

94.1 cm³

Explanation:

This is an exponential decay.

y = 300(0.9)^x

where x is the number of hours, and y is the amount after x hours.

y = 300(0.9)^11

y = 94.1