Answer :
Final answer:
Matt is ahead of Don by 69 - t pages at any time t seconds into the reading contest. The correct option, phrased as 7t - 69, is misleading since it should represent the lead as 69 - t pages.
Explanation:
To determine how far ahead of Don, Matt is at any time t seconds into the reading contest, we calculate the number of pages each reader has completed. Remember, Don gives Matt a 69-page head start.
- Matt reads 6t + 69 pages after t seconds.
- Don reads 7t pages after t seconds.
To find the difference in pages read between Matt and Don after t seconds, we subtract the total pages read by Don from the total pages read by Matt:
Matt's progress - Don's progress = (6t + 69) - (7t) = 69 - t
Therefore, Matt is ahead by 69 - t pages.
The correct answer is d. 7t - 69, although this is phrased incorrectly. The actual calculation shows that Matt leads by 69 - t pages after t seconds, assuming you are looking for the number of pages by which Matt is ahead, not the number by which he is behind.