Question

A candle is 4 inches tall and burns at the rate of 0.6 inch per hour. If the height of the candle after x hours is 1.5 inches, write an equation to represent the situation. Then use this equation to find the expected number of hours in which the candle melted to 1.5 inches.I think the way to start this is x = 1.5 inches but I'm stuck.

Answer 1

Given the following question:

Candle = 4 inches tall

Burns at a rate of 0.6 inches per hour

x = hours

$4-0.6x=1.5$

4 representing the height of the candle

0.6 representing the rate the candle burns

x = the amount of time in hours the candle burns

1.5 = the height of the candle after it burned for x hours

$\begin{gathered} 4-0.6x=1.5 \\ 0.6x=4-1.5 \\ 0.6x=2.5 \\ x=2.5\div0.6 \\ x=4.166 \\ =4.166\text{ hours} \end{gathered}$