Question

Given the age in years, t, of a water-transport pipe, the formula R = 17 + 4 t can be used to predict the rate of water leakage (in gallons per minute) from the pipe as it carries water from the headquarters of a farming cooperative to farmland a mile away. What is the meaning of the constant 17 in the function R ?

A. Initially the pipe leaks at 4 gallons per year.
B. Initially the pipe leaks at 17 gallons per year.
C. Initially the pipe leaks 17 gallons.
D. Initially the pipe leaks at 4 gallons per minute.
E. Initially the pipe leaks 4 gallons.
F. Initially the pipe leaks at 17 gallons per minute.

Answer 1

Answer: F. Initially the pipe leaks at 17 gallons per minute.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the equation below:

R = 17 + 4t

Where R is the rate of leakage in gallons per minute,

And t is the age of pipe in years.

The rate of leakage at time t = 0 ( initial rate of leakage )

R(0)= 17 + 4(0)

R(0)= 17 gallons per minute.

Therefore the initial rate of leakage is 17gallons per minute