A fitted model relates elevation \(h\), in thousands of feet, to predicted air temperature \(T\), in degrees Fahrenheit:
\(T=78-4h\).
The data used to create the fit covered elevations from \(1\) to \(8\) thousand feet. At what elevation does the model predict \(58\,\text{°F}\)? Is using the model for this prediction interpolation or extrapolation?
Hints
- Treat the target temperature as the known output and solve for the input variable.
- Keep track of the fact that \(h\) is measured in thousands of feet.
- Compare the solved input with the range of elevations used to create the fit.
Solution
1. Set the predicted temperature equal to \(58\): \(58=78-4h\).
2. Subtract \(78\): \(-20=-4h\).
3. Divide by \(-4\): \(h=5\).
4. The model predicts \(58\,\text{°F}\) at an elevation of \(5\) thousand feet.
5. Since \(5\) is within the observed range from \(1\) to \(8\), this is interpolation.
Answer
The model predicts \(58\,\text{°F}\) at \(5\) thousand feet, and this is interpolation.