can someone please answer this!!

Question

Kevin gets on an elevator in a skyscraper. The elevator starts to move at a rate of -15ft/s. After 4 seconds on the elevator, Kevin is 260 ft from the ground floor of the building. Write an equation in Slope Intercept Form (y=mx+b) for the motion of the elevator since it started to move. Use the variables x and y in your equation.R

Answer 1

Hi Jaylyn,

If the rate of the elevator is 15 ft/s after 4 seconds the elevator has gone 60 ft. (15 ft/s*4s = 60 ft.). If Kevin is at 260 ft above the ground after 4 seconds, he either started at 200 ft. or at 320ft. Assuming the negative sign on the -15ft/s means he is traveling down, he must of started at 320ft.

His height (h) can be represented by his time (t) traveling on the elevator by, h = (320 - 15*t)ft.

Using y = h and x = t, the equation is y = (320 - 15x)ft.

And put in the form of y = mx + b the equation becomes y = -15x + 320.

I hope this helps, Joe.