Monarch butterflies can fly only with a body temperature of at least 55.0   degrees   Fahrenheit   ° F

Question

Monarch butterflies can fly only with a body temperature of at least $55.0 degrees Fahrenheit left parenthesis degree upper F right parenthesis$ . If a monarch butterfly's body temperature is $51.3 degree upper F$ , what is the minimum increase needed in its body temperature, in $° F$ , so that it can fly?

A.

$1.3$

B.

$3.7$

C.

$5.0$

D.

$6.3$

Accepted Answer

Choice B is correct. It's given that monarch butterflies can fly only with a body temperature of at least 55.0 &#160; degrees &#160; Fahrenheit &#160; &#176; F . Let x represent the minimum increase needed in the monarch butterfly's body temperature to fly. If the monarch butterfly's body temperature is 51.3 &#176; F , the inequality 51.3 + x &#8805; 55.0 represents this situation. Subtracting 51.3 from both sides of this inequality yields x &#8805; 3.7 . Therefore, if the monarch butterfly's body temperature is 51.3 &#176; F , the minimum increase needed in its body temperature, in &#176; F , so that it can fly is 3.7 . Choice A is incorrect. This is the minimum increase needed in body temperature if the monarch butterfly's body temperature is 53.7 &#176; F , not 51.3 &#176; F . Choice C is incorrect. This is the minimum increase needed in body temperature if the monarch butterfly's body temperature is 50.0 &#176; F , not 51.3 &#176; F . Choice D is incorrect. This is the minimum increase needed in body temperature if the monarch butterfly's body temperature is 48.7 &#176; F , not 51.3 &#176; F .

Question 5033c9