Question

Water boils at different temperatures at different elevations. The boiling temperature of water is 212 degrees * F sea level (0 feet ) but drops about 1.72 degrees * F for every 1,000 feet of elevation. Write a formula for the boiling point at a given elevation. Then solve the formula for the elevation when the boiling point for water is 190 degrees F.

Answer 1

The elevation when the boiling point of water is
`190` °
`F` is 12790.70 feet

Explanation:

Let every 1,000 feet of elevation be
`x`. Hence, we can write

`T = 212`
`- 1.72x`

Where
`T` is the boiling temperature of water at different elevations

Now, to the determine the elevation when the boiling point of water is
`190` °
`F`.

We will determine
`x` by putting
`T = 190` °
`F`.

Hence,

`T = 212`
`- 1.72x`

`190`
`= 212`
`- 1.72x`

`190 - 212`
`= - 1.72x`

`- 22`
`= - 1.72x`

`22 = 1.72x\\x = (22)/(1.72) \\x = 12.79070`

Since
`x` represents every 1,000 feet of elevation, then the elevation when the boiling point of water is
`190` °
`F`

`12.79070` ×
`1000\\`
`= 12790.70` feet

Hence, the elevation when the boiling point of water is
`190` °
`F` is 12790.70 feet