What is Barry's altitude above sea level in inches when he is standing on the 55th step above the one-mile step counting the one-mile step itself as step?

Answer 1

To correctly solve this problem, you need to know how tall each step is. Let's say that the risers of the steps of the building are 8 inches high. Thus, from the one-mile step, Barry's altitude above sea level, in inches, is given by the following sequence:

63,360, 63,368, 63,376....

It would take you a very long time to keep adding 8, so you're going to need to use a function.

First, find the difference between each term. We already know this--it's 8. Now you need to make 8 the coefficient of n.

So far, your function should look like this: 8n

Now, you need to subtract the difference (8) from the first value. When we subtract 8 from 63,360, we come up with 63,352.

Combine the last term to 8n to finish your function.

8n+63,352

Now, because Barry is standing on the 55th step, substitute 55 for n.

8(55)+63,352.

Use a calculator to find 8(55).

440 +63,352=63,792

That is your final answer. Barry's altitude above sea level, in inches, when he is standing on the 55th step above the one-mile step (counting the one-mile step itself as step #1) is 63,792 inches.