Finding the rate of a drilling of 968 feet

Question

A mining drill can dig a hole 968 feet below ground level in about 44 minutes. Find the rate at which the hole is being drilled. What is the meaning of the sign of the answer?

Answer 1

Divide the distance drilled by the amount by the time taken to drill.  Your rate will be in the unit ft/min.

 

The negative sign indicates the downward direction.  Positive sign would mean that the drill retracted from the hole.