A meteorologist uses the function P(x)=29.9(0.89)x to model the atmospheric pressure, in inches of mercury, at an altitude of x kilometers above sea level. According to the model, how does the atmospheric pressure change with altitude?
a) the atmospheric pressure decreases by 11% per kilometer
b) the atmospheric pressure increases by 11% per kilometer
c) the atmospheric pressure increases by 89% per kiloimeter
d) the atmospheric pressure decreases by 89% per kilometer
a) the atmospheric pressure decreases by 11% per kilometer
To determine how the atmospheric pressure changes with altitude, we can look at the coefficient of the exponential term in the function P(x)=29.9(0.89)^x.
In this case, the coefficient is 0.89, which means that the pressure decreases by 11% (100% - 89%) for each kilometer increase in altitude.