Given that the fish descends 1.5 meters every 2 minutes, we can find the number of times the fish needs to descend 1.5 meters to reach a depth of -37.8 meters.
To find the number of descents, we calculate the difference between the starting depth (-10.8 meters) and the target depth (-37.8 meters):
Difference = -37.8 meters - (-10.8 meters)
Difference = -37.8 meters + 10.8 meters
Difference = -27 meters
To find the number of descents, we divide the difference by the descent rate:
Number of descents = Difference / Descent rate
Number of descents = -27 meters / 1.5 meters/2 minutes
Number of descents = -27 meters / 0.75 meters/minute
Number of descents ≈ -36
Since each descent takes 2 minutes, the total time it will take for the fish to reach a depth of -37.8 meters is:
Total time = Number of descents × Time per descent
Total time = -36 descents × 2 minutes/descent
Total time = -72 minutes
Since time cannot be negative, we consider the absolute value of the total time:
Total time ≈ 72 minutes
Therefore, it will take approximately 72 minutes for the fish to reach a depth of -37.8 meters.
This means that the fish will descend at a rate of 1.5 meters every 2 minutes until it reaches a depth of -37.8 meters below sea level, which will take approximately 72 minutes.