Solve the following word problem. The air temperature at 9 a.m. is −5.8 degrees Celsius. The air temperature at noon is −1.6 degrees Celsius. What is the change in the temperature during these three hours? Write and solve an equation to show your answer. Then explain what your answer means.
To find the change in temperature during these three hours, we need to subtract the initial temperature from the final temperature.
The initial temperature at 9 a.m. is -5.8 degrees Celsius, and the final temperature at noon is -1.6 degrees Celsius.
Therefore, the equation to find the change in temperature can be written as:
Change in temperature = Final temperature - Initial temperature
Change in temperature = (-1.6) - (-5.8)
Next, let's simplify the equation:
Change in temperature = -1.6 + 5.8
Change in temperature = 4.2 degrees Celsius
Therefore, the change in temperature during these three hours is 4.2 degrees Celsius.
This means that the temperature rose by 4.2 degrees Celsius from 9 a.m. to noon.