Isabel is flying a drone. She is controlling the drone so that it descends at a constant rate. After descending for 13 seconds, the drone is 256 meters high. After 25 seconds, the drone is 160 meters high.
the altitude of the drone decreases at a rate of how many meters per second
the altitude of the drone increases at a rate of how many meters per second
(b)What was the altitude of the drone when it started its descent?
The altitude of the drone decreases at a rate of (256 - 160) / (13 - 25) = 8 meters per second.
The altitude of the drone increases at a rate of 0 meters per second, since it is descending.
To find the altitude of the drone when it started its descent, we need to find the initial altitude. We can use the equation of a straight line:
y = mx + b
Where y is the altitude, x is the time, m is the rate of descent, and b is the initial altitude.
We have two points on the line: (13, 256) and (25, 160). Let's plug those values into the equation:
256 = (8)(13) + b
160 = (8)(25) + b
Simplifying these equations, we have:
256 = 104 + b
160 = 200 + b
Solving for b:
b = 152
b = -40
Since the altitude cannot be negative, the initial altitude of the drone when it started its descent was 152 meters.