Question 97947

Water at sea level boils at a temperature of 212 degrees Fahrenheit. For every increase in altitude of 1000 feet, the boiling point drops by 1.8 degrees. Write a linear function that gives the boiling point of water as a gunction of the altitude. What is the boiling point of water at 15,000 feet?

I have to solve this and then present it on the board during my next class and explain how I got the answer...and I have no idea what to do with this!! Please help! Thanks!!
<pre>Slope, or drop of 1.8<sup>o</sup>F for every 1,000-foot increase: {{{matrix(1,3, - 1.8/"1,000", "=", - .0018)}}}
A temperature of 212<sup>o</sup>F at sea level gives us the point: (0, 212), which are the coordinates of the y-intercept.
y = mx + b <====== LINEAR FUNCTION 
B(H) = mH + b ---- Substituting B(H) for BOILING POINT, or y, based on height, and H for x, or height
B(15,000) = - .0018(15,000) + 212 ------- Substituting 15,000 for H, - .0018 for m, and 212 for b
Boiling point of water at a height of 15,000 feet, or {{{highlight_green(matrix(1,6, "B(15,000)", "=", - 27 + 212, "=", 185^o, F))}}}