Question

A deep-sea diver mustdescend & ascend in shortsteps to equalize pressureon her body. If the diverrises toward the surface tooquickly, shemay sufferfrom a physical conditioncalled "the bends."Suppose the diver descendsto the bottom in three stepsof 12 feet each. Write &simplify an expression todescribe the diver's changein elevation.

Answer 1

The diver descends to the bottom in three steps of 12 feet each.

Since it is a descent below the sea level, each step = -12 feet

Therefore:

Three Steps of 12 feet each = 3(-12) feet

We can then conclude that the diver's change in elevation

$\begin{gathered} =3\left(-12\right) \\ =-36\text{ feet} \end{gathered}$

The diver's change in elevation is -36 feet.