13
RCMultiple Choice

Cumulative Exam — Cumulative exam

Question 13 • Mathematical Models with Applications - MA4072 CR

The weight of a person on or above the surface of the earth varies inversely as the square of the distance the person is from the center of the earth. If a person weighs 180 pounds on the surface of the earth and the radius of the earth is 3900 miles, what will the person weigh if he or she is 850 miles above the earth's surface? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth of a pound.

Answer
A
121.34 lb
B
121.74 lb
C
122.74 lb
D
120.84 lb

Explanation

Weight varies inversely with the square of the distance from Earth’s center. At 850 miles above the surface, the distance from the center is 3,900 + 850 = 4,750 miles, so the weight is 180 × (3,900/4,750)² ≈ 121.34 pounds. The person will weigh 121.34 lb, choice a.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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