Question

A cup of coffee is cooling down such that its temperature is decreasing at a constant rate of 8% per minute. Let’s say the coffee starts at a temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

What’s its temperature after one minute by finding 8% of 200 and then subtracting?

Answer 1

Temperature after 1 minute = 184 ° F

Explanation:

starting temperature = 200 °F

rate of decrease = 8% per minute

Temperature lost = 8% of 200 = 8/100 × 200 = 0.08 × 200 = 16 °F

It therefore means that after 1 minute, the cup of coffee loses 16 °F,

∴ Temperature after 1 minute = (starting temperature) - (lost temperature)

= 200 - 16 = 184 °F