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AlgebraEasy–MediumValue of a linear function from a rate and a start

Algebra practice question

A snow depth gauge read 3 centimetres at midnight, and snow fell steadily at 0.5 centimetres per hour. What did the gauge read, in centimetres, at 4 p.m. the same day?

Answer: 11

Midnight to 4 p.m. is 16 hours: 3 + 0.5 × 16 = 11.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 5
5 uses 4 hours (reading '4 p.m.' as 4 hours after midnight).
If you answered 8
8 is 0.5 × 16, the snowfall alone, without the starting 3 cm.
If you answered 19
19 uses 0.5 × 32, doubling the hours.

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