A rainstorm hit Portland, Maine, in October 1996, resulting in record rainfall. The rainfall rate 𝑅 ( t ) is recorded, in centimeters per hour, in the following table

Question

A rainstorm hit Portland, Maine, in October 1996, resulting in record rainfall. The rainfall rate 𝑅(t) is recorded, in centimeters per hour, in the following table, where 𝑡t is the number of hours since midnight. Compute the total rainfall during this 24-hour period.

t	0 - 2	2 - 4	4-9	9 - 12	12 - 20	20 - 24
𝑅(𝑡)	0.3	0.2	0.6	1.3	0.8	0.25

Answer 1

Hi Cesar,

The total amount of rainfall will equal the sum of the amounts of rainfall for each time period. Each time period's rainfall equals the rate of rainfall multiplied by the length of time. For instance the first time period lasts two hours (2-0) and the rate of rainfall is 0.3 cm/hr. The total rainfall during this time is then 2*0.3 = 0.6 cm.

Total Rainfall = 2*0.3 + 2*0.2 + 5*0.6 + 3*1.3 + 8*0.8 + 4*0.25 = 15.3 cm.