Carbon Dioxide Emissions Carbon emissions contribute to climate change, which has serious consequences for humans and their environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, carbon emissions, in the form of carb
1) Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Carbon emissions contribute to climate change, which has serious consequences for humans and their
environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, carbon emissions, in the form of
carbon dioxide (CO2), make up more than 80 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted in the United
States (EPA, 2019). The burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases. These carbon
emissions raise global temperatures by trapping solar energy in the atmosphere. This alters water
supplies and weather patterns, changes the growing season for food crops, and threatens coastal
communities with increasing sea levels (EPA, 2016).
The amount of CO2 emitted per year A (in tons) for a vehicle that averages x miles per gallon of gas, can
be approximated by the function A(x) = 0.0089x
2 − 0.815x + 22.3.
a) Determine the average rate of change of the amount of CO2 emitted in a year over the interval
[20, 25], and interpret its meaning.
b) Determine the average rate of change of the amount of CO2 emitted in a year over the interval
[35, 40], and interpret its meaning.
c) Provide an interpretation of the difference between the values found in parts a) and b) and state
the implications in the context of vehicle emissions of CO2.
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
