Question 33698
y=22+ 3|t-2|
this is the equation to tell us the water level....
we know that absolute value of a number cannot result in negative, so the water level has to be atleast 22 feet high.... we can actually get 22 as an answer for 'y' if we produce a number for 't' in which the absolute value would result in zero:
y = 22 + 3|t - 2| original equation
y = 22 + 3|2 - 2| plug in two
y = 22 + 3|0|
y = 22
if the time is 0, then the lowest water level (22) is possible
-Attention-
are you sure you are not finding the water level of the river beneath the dam? I read the question and compared it with your book's equations.... it doesn't make sense to me.