document.write( "Question 863039: Please help me in answering this problem:
\n" ); document.write( "The unit measure for atmospheric pressure is KPa (Kilo-Pascals). At sea level the standard atmospheric pressure is 101.3 KPa. For every 1000 feet increase in altitude atmospheric pressure decreases by 1.8 KPa.
\n" ); document.write( "What is the atmospheric pressure at 50,000 feet?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I have tried to answer the question, my understanding to the question is what is the value of t 50,000 and the common difference d is 1000 but I didn't know if I should consider the first term (a)= 101.3 or 101.3 - 1.8 = 99.5 KPa\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #520294 by richwmiller(17219)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
At sea level, the height is 0 and the pressure is 101.3
\n" ); document.write( "At 1000 ft, the height is 1000 and the pressure is 99.5
\n" ); document.write( "The first time we lose 1.8 is at 1000 ft or 1
\n" ); document.write( "(0,101.3)
\n" ); document.write( "(1, 99.5)
\n" ); document.write( "(2, 97.7)
\n" ); document.write( "So we lose 1.8 for each and every 1
\n" ); document.write( "The common difference is -1.8 for every 1000 ft which we will consider 1
\n" ); document.write( "The first time we lose 1.8 is at 1000 ft or 1
\n" ); document.write( "we lose 1.8 for every 1000 ft
\n" ); document.write( "If you work out the slope and y intercept
\n" ); document.write( "y = 101.3-1.8x
\n" ); document.write( "y=101.3-1.8*50
\n" ); document.write( "y=11.3 KPa at 50000 ft\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Your problem stems from starting with 0 at sea level and not 1000
\n" ); document.write( "The linear equation is still y = 101.3-1.8x if we use the points (1, 99.5) and
\n" ); document.write( "(2, 97.7) where x=50 and y=11.3
\n" ); document.write( "An = a1 + (n - 1)d
\n" ); document.write( "A50 = 99.5 -1.8(49)
\n" ); document.write( "We still get 11.3 at 50000
\n" ); document.write( "A50=11.3 KPa
\n" ); document.write( "so A1 = 99.5 and the difference is -1.8\r
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