Rate of Change and Slope - Word Problems:

1. ROOFING: The pitch of the rook is the number of feet the roof rises for each 12 feet horizontally. If a rook has a pitch of 8, what is its slope expressed as a positive number?

2. SALES: A daily newspaper had 12,125 subscribers when it began publication. Five years later it had 10,100 subscribers. What is the average yearly rate of change in the number of subscribers for the five-year period?

Question

Rate of Change and Slope - Word Problems:

1.  ROOFING:  The pitch of the rook is the number of feet the roof rises for each 12 feet horizontally.  If a rook has a pitch of 8, what is its slope expressed as a positive number?

2.  SALES:  A daily newspaper had 12,125 subscribers when it began publication.  Five years later it had 10,100 subscribers.  What is the average yearly rate of change in the number of subscribers for the five-year period?

campbell_st · Answer

1. 8/12 or 2/3

2. (12125 - 10100)/5

anonymous · Answer

What throws me off #1.  is that it expresses that its "horizontal" and horizontal lines don't have a slope.  Do I not need to focus on that?

campbell_st · Answer

slop or gradient is rise/run.... the rise is 8 and the run is 12... so its 8/12

anonymous · Answer

Ok so this situation that is the only thing that applies.  How did you figure #2?

campbell_st · Answer

the subscribers increased.. thats the rise... over the run of time...

anonymous · Answer

Oh.  I get it now.  I really do not like word problems they confuse me.  Thank you for your help!

campbell_st · Answer

no problem