16Hit1600
Advanced MathEasyStarting value from a linear-looking model of temperature

Advanced Math practice question

A cup of tea cools so that its temperature T, in °C, after m minutes is modelled by T(m) = 20 + 60(1/2)^(m/10). What was the temperature of the tea, in °C, at m = 0?

Answer: 80

(1/2)⁰ = 1, so T(0) = 20 + 60 = 80.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 20
20 is the room temperature the tea approaches, not its starting value.
If you answered 50
50 uses (1/2)¹ instead of (1/2)⁰.
If you answered 60
60 forgets the 20.

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