Question

@whpalmer4
A rocket burns up at the rate of 4 tons/min after falling out of orbit into the atmosphere. If the rocket weighed 5400 tons before reentry, express its weight w as a function of time t, in minutes of reentry.

Write the weight of the rocket as the function w(t).

Answer 1

Would it be:

w=5400-4t?

Answer 2

Each minute, 4 tons of rocket burns up upon reentry.
In t minutes, (4 * t) tons of rocket will burn up.
The starting weight of the rocket is 5400 tons.
After time t, the weight of the rocket will be: w(t) = 5400 - 4t tons.
Yes, you have the correct answer.

Answer 3

thankee-sai!

Answer 4

You are welcome.

Answer 5

I am just needing a little guidance. I always have problems converting word problems into mathematical expressions

Answer 6

You did good here. :)