Answer
a)
upper estimate=60.9 tons
lower estimate=46.8 tons
b)126.6 tons
Work Step by Step
Since the pollutant release increases over time, an upper estimate uses right endpoints and a lower estimate uses left endpoints;
(a) upper estimate
(0.2)(30)+ (0.25)(30) +(0.27)(30)+ (0.34)(30) +(0.45)(30) +(0.52)(30)= 60.9 tons
lower estimate (0.05)(30)+ (0.2)(30)+ (0.25)(30)+ (0.27)(30) +(0.34)(30) +(0.45)(30) =46.8 tons
(b) Using the lower (best case) estimate:
46.8 +(0.52)(30)+ (0.63)(30) +(0.70)(30)+ (0.81)(30) =126.6 tons,
so near the end of September 125 tons of pollutants will have been released.
