Question

a mercury thermometer records a temperature of 8 degrees fahrenheit at 10 a.m. if the temperature drops by 3 degrees fahrenheit every hour what will be the temperature by 2 p.m. of the same day ​

Answer 1

-4 Degrees Fahrenheit

Explanation:

Given

`Initial\ Temperature = 8` ---- at 10am

`Difference = -3`

Required

Determine the final temperature at 2pm

First, we need to determine the hour from 10am to 2pm (Both inclusive)

`Interval = 2pm - 10am + 1hr`

`Interval = 4hr + 1hr`

`Interval = 5hr`

To solve further, we make use of the following Arithmetic Progression formula:

`T_n = a + (n - 1)d`

Where

`a = 8` --- Initial

`d = -3` --- difference

`n = 5` -- 5th term

`T_n` --- Final temperature at 2pm

So: we have:

`T_n = 8 + (5 - 1) * -3`

`T_n = 8 + (4) * -3`

`T_n = 8 + 4 * -3`

`T_n = 8 -12`

`T_n = -4`

Hence:

The temperature is -4 Degrees Fahrenheit