A scientist is monitoring the temperature of a holding tank containing fish to be released into a river. In one 12-h period, the highest temperature was 10.4°C and the lowest temperature was 7.6°C. Write an absolute value equation that can be used to report the highest temperature and the lowest temperature. (2 marks)
maybe
average = (7.6+10.4)/2 = 9
9 +/- |1.4|
To write an absolute value equation for the highest and lowest temperatures, we need to consider that the absolute value of a number represents its distance from zero on a number line. In this case, we are interested in the distance of the temperatures from a specified reference point (which is not mentioned in the question).
Let's assume the reference point is the ideal temperature required for the fish, and we'll represent it as "x" degrees Celsius.
To calculate the highest temperature, we'll subtract "x" from the reported highest temperature of 10.4°C, take the absolute value of the difference, and set it equal to the highest temperature. That gives us:
|10.4 - x| = highest temperature
Similarly, to calculate the lowest temperature, we'll subtract "x" from the reported lowest temperature of 7.6°C, take the absolute value of the difference, and set it equal to the lowest temperature. This can be written as:
|7.6 - x| = lowest temperature
So, the absolute value equation for the highest temperature is |10.4 - x| = highest temperature, and the absolute value equation for the lowest temperature is |7.6 - x| = lowest temperature.