AlgebraVery hardStarting altitude of a descending hiker
Algebra practice question
A hiker descends at a constant rate. She is at an altitude of 1,900 metres after 2 hours and 1,300 metres after 5 hours. At what altitude, in metres, did she start?
Answer: 2300
She descends 600 m in 3 hours, or 200 m per hour, so 2 hours before the first reading she was at 1,900 + 400 = 2,300 m.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 1500
- 1500 subtracts instead of adding.
- If you answered 2100
- 2100 adds one hour's descent instead of two.
- If you answered 2500
- 2500 adds three hours' descent.
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