Starting at noon, the temperature dropped steadily at a rate of 0.08 degrees Celsius every hour.

For each these situations, write and solve an equation and describe what your variable represents.

a. How many hours did it take for the temperature to decrease by 4.4 degrees Celsius?

b. If the temperature after the 4.4 degree drop was - 2.5 degrees Celsius, what was the temperature at noon?

a. 55 hours

b. 1.9 degrees C

Step-by-step explanation:

This means for each hour the temperature drops 0.08. This is the expression 0.08x where x is number of hours.

a.) If the temperature has dropped 4.4, then 4.4 = 0.08x. Solving for x will give the number of hours it takes to drop 4.4.

4.4 = 0.08x

4.4 / 0.08 = x

55 = x

b.) If the temperature after 55 hours and dropping 4.4 is - 2.5, then the temperature at the start would be - 2.5 + 4.4 = 1.9. The temperature at noon was 1.9 degrees celsius.