Question

A seagull was flying about sea level looking to catch a fish below sea level. The elevation above sea level was 125 1/2 feet. He spots a fish that is 45 1/2 feet below sea level.

The seagull stops exactly half way between his location above sea level and the fish’s location below sea level because he realizes he won’t catch it in time. What’s the seagull’s position in feet at the halfway point? Show work.

Answer 1

The seagull's position halfway is 85.5 feet.

Explanation:

The seagull is at 125 1/2 feet above the sea level.

The fish is at 45 1/2 feet below the sea level.

The distance between the seagull and fish = seagull's distance above the sea level + fish's distance below the sea level

= 125 1/2 + 45 1/2

=
`(251)/(2)` +
`(91)/(2)`

=
`(342)/(2)`

= 171

The distance between the seagull and fish is 171 feet.

Since the seagull stops halfway, then;

seagull's position =
`(171)/(2)`

= 85.5

The seagull's position halfway is 85.5 feet.