Question

After sitting in a refrigerator for a while, a turkey at a temperature of 34 degrees F is placed on the counter and slowly warms closer to room temperature 72 degrees f. The turkey reaches the temperature of 41 degrees F after 35 minutes. Using this information, find the value of k, to the nearest thousandth. Use the resulting equation to determine the Fahrenheit temperature of the turkey, to the nearest degree, after 80 minutes.

Answer 1

Answer:

• k = 0.006
• T = 48 °F

Step-by-step explanation:

The initial temperature difference of 72 -34 = 38 °F is reduced to a difference of 72 -41 = 31 °F after 35 minutes. The exponential term in the temperature expression could have the factor ...

  (31/38)^(t/35) = e^(-kt)

Taking the natural log, we find ...

  (t/35)ln(31/38) = -kt

  k = ln(38/31)/35 ≈ 0.00581711

To the nearest thousandth, this is ...

  k ≈ 0.006

Using this in the equation for temperature, we have ...

  T = 72 -38e^(-0.006t)

Filling in the desired value for t (80), we find the turkey temperature after 80 minutes to be about

  T = 72 -38e^(-.006×80) = 72 -38e^-.48 ≈ 48.49

  T ≈ 48 °F

The value of k is about 0.006, and the turkey temperature is about 48 °F.