Beginning from a depth of 35 feet below the surface, a whale swims
upward and jumps to a height of nearly 17 feet above the surface.
Nodel with Math Use an inequality to model the possible
change in the number of feet, , of the whale’s elevation.

To model the whale’s elevation change, we can express the starting depth as -35 feet (below the surface) and the maximum height as +17 feet (above the surface). The change in elevation can be modeled with the inequality:

This means the whale’s elevation can range from the starting point up to the point it breaches the surface. Solving for , we find . Therefore, the whale can change its elevation by a maximum of 52 feet in this scenario.

Now, considering the whale’s journey, the total vertical distance from the bottom to the surface and then above can help contextualize this. The journey starts from a deep dive and involves powerful propulsion both upward to the surface and beyond. This is a classic case of just how remarkable and dynamic marine life can be!