Question

Tyler just lit a new candle and then let it burn all the way down to nothing. The initial length of the candle was 15 inches and the candle burned at a rate of 1.25 inches per hour. Write an equation for L, comma

L
,
L, in terms of t, comma
t
,
t, representing the length of the candle remaining unburned, in inches, t
t
t hours after the candle was lit.

Answer 1

You can represent the length of the candle remaining unburned, L (in inches), t (in hours) after the candle was lit using the equation:

L(t) = 15 - 1.25t

In this equation:

- L(t) represents the length of the candle remaining after t hours.

- 15 is the initial length of the candle in inches.

- 1.25t represents the amount of candle that has burned as it's burning at a rate of 1.25 inches per hour, so this amount is subtracted from the initial length to find the remaining length.