A squirrel has stored its acorns in a hole that is 45 feet from the ground in a tall tree. The squirrel starts on a perch 100 feet above the ground. The squirrel moves from the perch down to its stored acorns in 5.25 seconds. Interpret the quotient to describe the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground. Give your answer to the nearest hundredth.(1 point)

Responses

The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is −19.05 feet/second.
The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is negative 19.05 feet/second.

The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is 19.05 feet/second.
The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is 19.05 feet/second.

The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is 10.48 feet/second.
The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is 10.48 feet/second.

The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is −10.48 feet/second.

The correct answer is: The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is −19.05 feet/second.

The correct interpretation of the quotient to describe the rate of change in the squirrel's height above the ground is:

The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is -19.05 feet/second.

To find the rate of change in the squirrel's height above the ground, you need to divide the change in height (45 feet) by the time it takes (5.25 seconds). So the calculation is:

Rate of change = Change in height / Time taken

Rate of change = 45 feet / 5.25 seconds

Calculating this value gives us approximately 8.57 feet/second (rounded to the nearest hundredth).

Since the squirrel is moving down (towards the ground), the rate of change is negative. Therefore, the correct answer is:

The quotient that describes the rate of change in the squirrel’s height above the ground is approximately -8.57 feet/second.