MHB Derivative word problem - have I got the wrong solution?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on solving a derivative word problem involving the temperature of a steak in an oven, modeled by the equation T(x) = 175 - 153e^(-kx). The user initially calculated the rate of temperature change at 30 minutes to be approximately 0.54 degrees Celsius/min. However, feedback indicated that the user mistakenly used 50 minutes instead of 30 minutes to compute the constant k, leading to an incorrect solution. The correct approach requires recalculating k using the proper time variable.

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My answer is wrong according to the book, but I don't see where my mistake was made..

The question:
The temperature of a steak that's being put into the oven can be describe with
T(x) = 175-153e-kx
where T(x) is the temperature in degrees Celsius t minutes after the steak has been put into the oven. After 30 minutes the steak's temperature is 50 degrees Celsius. At which rate is the temperature changing then?

This is my solution:
T(30)=50
50=175-153e-50k
-125=-153e-50k
125/153 = e-50k
ln (125/153) = -50k
k = ln(125/153)/-50, approximately 0.004

T(x)=175-153e-0.004x
T'(x)=0.612e-0.004x
T'(30)=0.612e-0.004(30), approximately 0.54

Answer: the steak's temperature is changing by 0.54 degrees Celsius/min, after 30 minutes

Would really appreciate feedback on this!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You have let the time be 50, rather than 30 minutes in your computation of $k$.
 
Thank you, MarkFL!
 
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