The temperature fell 4 degrees every hour. The total decline was 20 degrees. For how many hours was the temperature decreasing at this rate?

total=rate*time

solve for time.

-24

To find the number of hours the temperature was decreasing at a rate of 4 degrees per hour, we can divide the total decline of 20 degrees by the rate of decrease, which is 4 degrees per hour.

Let's set up the equation: x hours × 4 degrees per hour = 20 degrees.
This equation represents the number of hours (x) multiplied by the rate of decrease (4 degrees per hour), which gives us the total decline of 20 degrees.

Simplifying the equation, we have: 4x = 20.

Now, we can solve for x by dividing both sides of the equation by 4: x = 20 / 4.

Performing the division, we find: x = 5.

Therefore, the temperature was decreasing at a rate of 4 degrees per hour for 5 hours.