Math Problem Statement

A lake near the Arctic Circle is covered by a 2-meter-thick sheet of ice during the cold winter months. When spring arrives, the warm air gradually melts the ice, causing its thickness to decrease at a constant rate. After 3 weeks, the sheet is only 1.25 meters thick. Let y represent the ice sheet's thickness (in meters) after x weeks. Which of the following information about the graph of the relationship is given?

Solution

Let's break down the given problem.

Key Information:

  • Initially, the ice sheet is 2 meters thick.
  • After 3 weeks, the ice sheet's thickness has decreased to 1.25 meters.
  • The thickness is decreasing at a constant rate, so we can model the relationship between thickness and time with a linear equation.

Define Variables:

  • Let yy represent the thickness of the ice sheet (in meters).
  • Let xx represent the number of weeks that have passed.

Steps to Approach:

  1. Find the slope (rate of change):
    The thickness decreases from 2 meters to 1.25 meters in 3 weeks, so the slope mm is calculated by the formula: m=change in thicknesschange in time=1.25230=0.753=0.25m = \frac{\text{change in thickness}}{\text{change in time}} = \frac{1.25 - 2}{3 - 0} = \frac{-0.75}{3} = -0.25 The slope m=0.25m = -0.25, meaning the ice sheet's thickness decreases by 0.25 meters each week.

  2. y-intercept:
    The initial thickness is 2 meters when x=0x = 0, so the y-intercept is 2.

Graph Interpretation:

  • Slope: The slope is known to be 0.25-0.25.
  • y-intercept: The y-intercept is 2 because that is the starting thickness.

Conclusion:

The graph of the relationship is a line with a slope of 0.25-0.25 and a y-intercept of 2. Therefore, the answer is (B) Slope and y-intercept.

Would you like more details or further clarification?

Here are five questions to deepen understanding:

  1. How would the graph change if the ice melted faster?
  2. What does the x-intercept of this graph represent physically?
  3. How would you find the x-intercept from the equation?
  4. Could this scenario ever have a positive slope?
  5. How would the equation change if the rate of melting was not constant?

Tip: In linear models, the y-intercept often represents the starting value, and the slope shows how the dependent variable changes per unit of the independent variable.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Linear Relationships
Slope-Intercept Form
Graph Interpretation

Formulas

Slope formula: m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
Slope-intercept form: y = mx + b

Theorems

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Suitable Grade Level

Grades 8-10