Real-Life Math -- Solution
Here are the answers:
1. What is the total surface area of
the spill?
50 x 120 = 6,000
The total surface area
of the spill is 6,000 square feet.
2. How much of the ground is contaminated,
in cubic feet?
6,000 / 2 = 3,000
3,000 x 1 = 3,000
3,000
x 2 = 6,000
3,000 + 6,000 = 9,000
The
total area of the contaminated ground is 9,000 cubic feet.
3. How much
would a traditional cleanup cost?
9,000 x 120 = 1,080,000
The
cost for a traditional cleanup would be $1,080,000. Ouch!
4. How much
will your method cost?
9,000 x 30 = 270,000
The
cost for your phytoremediation method is $270,000. That's better!
Good
math skills are important in this job. How much they're needed depends
on what area you specialize in, says Angus Chu. He is a professor of environmental
engineering. He also does research in phytoremediation.
"If you're
approaching this from the engineering field, then those math skills are a
prerequisite," Chu says. "The training just to get a bachelor's degree
in engineering required lots of math skills."
But those skills aren't
as important in other areas. "Professional biologists are involved in this
kind of field. So if you're involved from that end of things, then math
skills aren't as important."