The graph models the decent of a hot air balloon in feet per minute. What does the y-intercept tell you in this situation?
A. The balloon rises 600 feet.
B. The balloon starts its decent at 600 feet.
C. The balloon takes 0 minutes to descend 600 feet.
D. It will take the balloon 600 minutes to descend.
The y-intercept of a graph represents the point where the line crosses the y-axis. In the context of a graph that models the descent of a hot air balloon in feet per minute, the y-intercept would typically represent the starting height of the balloon when the descent begins, assuming the time (x-axis) starts from zero.
Therefore, the correct answer for what the y-intercept tells you in this situation would be:
B. The balloon starts its descent at 600 feet.
This means that at time zero (before any descent), the hot air balloon is at an altitude of 600 feet.