Answer :
Let x be the length of the candle before it was lit. The candle burns at a constant rate of 0.9 inches per hour, so after burning for 3.5 hours, the length of the candle remaining is 9.85 - 0.9(3.5) = 6.25 inches. We can set up the equation:
x - 0.9(3.5) = 6.25
Simplifying this equation, we get:
x = 9.95 inches
Therefore, the length of the candle before it was lit was 9.95 inches.
In this problem, we used the fact that the rate at which the candle burns is constant, and we used this information to calculate how much of the candle had burned after 3.5 hours. From there, we were able to set up an equation to find the length of the candle before it was lit. This problem illustrates how to use algebraic equations to solve real-world problems involving rates and quantities.
To learn more about algebraic equations : brainly.com/question/29131718
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