Answer:
They dig 42.5 meters in 5 hours
Step-by-step explanation:
The following information was given:
Time (hours) Distance (meters)
1 8.5
2 17
3 25.5
4 34
5 x
Finding x when the rate of meters per hour remains the same
Let us first find the rate in meters per hour
rate = change in distance ÷ change in time
Between 1 and 2 hours
[tex]rate = \frac{d_2 - d_1}{t_2 - t_1} \\where:\\d_2 = 17 m\\d_1 = 8.5m\\t_2 = 2\ hours\\t_1 = 1\ hour\\\therefore\ rate = \frac{17 - 8.5}{2-1} \\rate =\frac{8.5}{1} \\rate = 8.5\ m/hr[/tex]
This means that for every additional 1 hour, 8.5 meters is dug
Finding the meters dug in 5 hours
4 hours = 34 meters
4 hours to 5 hours = 1 hour
for every additional 1 hour, 8.5 meters are dug
∴ 4 hours to 5 hours = 34 + 8.5
4 hours to 5 hours = 42.5 meters