A fish is swimming at a constant rate toward the ocean floor.
The equation y = -7x = 3 can be used to represent the situation, where y is the depth of the fish in meters below sea level and x is the number of seconds the fish has been swimming.
Which statement best describes the depth of the fish, given the equation?
A. From a starting position of 3 meters below sea level, the fish is descending 3 meters per second.
B. From a starting position of 3 meters below sea level, the fish is ascending 3 meters per second.
C. From a starting position of 3 meters below sea level, the fish is descending 7 meters per second.
D. From a starting position of 3 meters below sea level, the fish is ascending 7 meters per second.
The correct answer is C. From a starting position of 3 meters below sea level, the fish is descending 7 meters per second.
This is because in the equation y = -7x + 3, the coefficient of x is -7. This means that for every second the fish is swimming, its depth below sea level decreases by 7 meters. The positive constant 3 indicates that the fish starts at a depth of 3 meters below sea level.