A sucba diver descends father down into the ocean from an initial depth of 14.7 feet below sea level. The scuba diver descends at a constant rate of 4 1/2 minutes and reaches a depth no more than 65.1 feet below sea level. What is the maximum rate, r, that the scuba diver may descend?
To find the maximum rate at which the scuba diver may descend, we need to divide the change in depth by the change in time. The change in depth is 65.1 feet - (-14.7) feet = 79.8 feet. The change in time is 4 1/2 minutes = 4.5 minutes. So the maximum rate at which the scuba diver may descend is 79.8 feet / 4.5 minutes = <<79.8/4.5=17.733333333333334>>17.73 feet per minute. The maximum rate, r, that the scuba diver may descend is 17.73 feet per minute. Answer: \boxed{17.73}.
