Answer:
5 hours
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperature in the room starts at 70°F and decreases by 2°F every hour due to the air conditioning unit. If the temperature needs to be at most 60°F within the next few hours, we can calculate how many hours the air conditioner needs to run by using the following steps:
1. Calculate the temperature decrease per hour: 70°F - 2°F = 68°F after the 1st hour, 68°F - 2°F = 66°F after the 2nd hour, and so on.
2. We need to find out how many hours it will take to reach 60°F or lower. Let's set up an equation: 70 - 2x = 60, where x represents the number of hours the air conditioner needs to run.
3. Solve for x: 70 - 2x = 60, 2x = 10, x = 5.
Therefore, the air conditioner needs to run for 5 hours to reach a temperature of 60°F or lower in the room.
