Across a horizontal distance of 25 feet, a roller coaster has a steep drop. The height of the roller coaster at the bottom of the drop is - 125 feet, compared to its height at the top of the drop. What is the average amount that the roller coaster's height changes over each horizontal foot?

Answer: - 5

Explanation: You correctly divided the absolute values, but since you are dividing a negative height by a positive number of horizontal feet, the answer is negative. What the hell I thought this answer was supposed to be verified ... By who the same person that gave the wrong answer?

X = total horizontal distance = 25 ft

Y = total vertical distance = 125 ft

x = horizontal distance = 1 ft

y = vertical distance = ?

using the equation

y = (Y/X) (x)

inserting the values

y = (125/25) (1)

y = 5 ft

hence for each horizontal foot, the average height change is 5 ft

or

25 ft horizontal distance traveled = 125 ft vertical distance dropped

dividing both side by 25

25 ft horizontal distance traveled/25 = 125 ft vertical distance dropped/25

1 foot horizontal distance traveled = 25 ft vertical distance dropped