Question

An Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo plane left Hill Air Force Base in Salt Lake City, UT at a height of 4,450 feet above sea level. If the plane climbs at a rate of 1,033 feet per minute, which function could be used to determine t, the time in minutes it will take the plane to reach its cruising elevation of 33,374 feet above sea level?
A.
33,374 = (4,450 + 1,033)t
B.
33,374 = 1,033(t + 4,450)
C.
33,374 = 4,450 + 1,033t
D.
33,374 = 1,033 + 4,450t

Answer 1

Answer: C.

33,374 = 4,450 + 1,033t

Step-by-step explanation:

33,374 is the height to be achieved

4,450 is the starting elevation

1,033 feet/min is the rate of climb.

33,374 - 4,450 = 28924 ft is the elevation to be gained  

We want to know how many minutes it will take to add 28924 ft to the elevarion.  We can find that by setting 28924 ft = (1,033 ft/min)*t, where t is in minutes.

So the equation 33,374 = 4,450 + 1,033t summarizes these steps in one equation:

(33,374 - 4,450) = elevation needed

(1,033 ft/min)*t = elevation delivered as a function of time, t

Set them equal to each other:

(33,374 - 4,450) = (1,033 ft/min)*t

Rearrange:

33,374 = 4,450 + 1,033t     Answer C.