SOLUTION: Actually, this is a problem involving slope as well. Driving down a mountain, Tom finds that he has descended 1800 ft. in elevation by the time he is 3.25 mi. horizontally away

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Travel -> SOLUTION: Actually, this is a problem involving slope as well. Driving down a mountain, Tom finds that he has descended 1800 ft. in elevation by the time he is 3.25 mi. horizontally away       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 37247This question is from textbook Beginning Algebra
: Actually, this is a problem involving slope as well.
Driving down a mountain, Tom finds that he has descended 1800 ft. in elevation by the time he is 3.25 mi. horizontally away from the top of the mountain. Find the slope of his descent to the nearest hundreds.
I just cannot figure out the formula, if I knew it I could solve the problem.
This question is from textbook Beginning Algebra

Answer by Nate(3500) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Driving down a mountain, Tom finds that he has descended 1800 ft. in elevation by the time he is 3.25 mi. horizontally away from the top of the mountain.
the formula for slope(m) is: m=%28y-y%29%2F%28x-x%29
use these coordinates: (0,0) peak of mountain; (3.25,1800) where the x-axis tells you the amount of miles traveled, and the y-axis tells you the amount of feet you have descended.
m=%28y-y%29%2F%28x-x%29 original
m=%281800-0%29%2F%283.25-0%29
m=%281800%29%2F%283.25%29
m=%28180000%29%2F%28325%29
m=%287200%29%2F%2813%29