Chapter 3.1, Problem 20E

Reminder Round all answers two decimals places unless otherwise indicated.

The Mississippi River For purposes of this exercise, we will think of the Mississippi River as a straight line beginning at its headwaters, Lake Itasca, Minnesota, at an elevation of $1475$ feet above sea level, and sloping downward to the Gulf of Mexico $2340$ miles to the south.

a. Think of the southern direction as pointing to the right along the horizontal axis. What is the slope of the line representing the Mississippi River? Be sure to indicate what units you are using.

b. Memphis, Tennessee, sits on the Mississippi River $1982$ miles south of Lake Itasca. What is the elevation of the river as it passes Memphis?

c. How many miles south of Lake Itasca would you find the elevation of the Mississippi to be $200$ feet?