A bird is flying at an average altitude of 10 meters above the ground. After 3 seconds, it settles on a branch that is 3 meters above the ground. Interpret the quotient to describe the rate of change in the birds altitude. Give your answer to the nearest hundredth and remember that the bird is descending.
The quotient that describes the rate of change in the bird's altitude is -2.33.
This means that the bird is descending at a rate of approximately 2.33 meters per second.
The rate of change in the bird's altitude can be determined by finding the difference in altitude and dividing it by the time it takes to cover that distance.
The initial altitude of the bird is 10 meters above the ground, and after 3 seconds, it settles on a branch that is 3 meters above the ground. The difference in altitude is 10 - 3 = 7 meters.
The time it takes for the bird to cover this distance is 3 seconds.
To find the rate of change, we divide the difference in altitude by the time taken: 7 / 3 = 2.33.
Therefore, the quotient 2.33 represents the rate of change in the bird's altitude.