An airplane is at 32,000 feet above sea level and descends at an average rate of 1,000 feet per minute. How many minutes will it take for the airplane to land at an airport 3,000 feet above sea level?

To determine how long it will take for the airplane to descend from 32,000 feet to 3,000 feet, we first need to calculate the total descent required. The starting altitude is 32,000 feet, and the target altitude is 3,000 feet.

The total altitude to descend is calculated as follows:

32,000 feet (initial altitude) - 3,000 feet (final altitude) = 29,000 feet.

Next, we know the airplane descends at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute. To find the time required to complete the descent, we use the formula:

Time = Total Descent / Descent Rate.

Plugging in the values:

Time = 29,000 feet / 1,000 feet per minute = 29 minutes.

This calculation confirms that it will take the airplane 29 minutes to descend to the airport at an altitude of 3,000 feet, making the answer accurate.