An airplane is preparing to land at an airport. It is 53100 feet above the ground and is descending at the rate of 3300 feet per minute. At the same airport, another airplane is taking off and will ascend at the rate of 2600 feet per minute. When will the two airplanes be at the same altitude and what will that altitude be? Use pencil and paper. Use two other methods to solve the problem. Explain which methods are easier to use and which are more difficult to use for the situation.
9514 1404 393 Answer: after 7 minutes 19,600 feet Step-by-step explanation: Here's the "pencil and paper" solution: The two altitude equations are ... y = 41300 -3100x y = 2800x They can be solved by setting the expressions for y equal to each other. 2800x = 41300 -3100x 5900x = 41300 x = 41300/5900 = 7 y = 2800·7 = 19600 The planes will both be at 19,600 feet after 7 minutes.
