A cup of boiling water ($212^{\circ}\text{F}$) is placed to cool in a room whose temperature remains constant at $68^{\circ}\text{F}$. Suppose the difference between the water temperature and the room temperature is halved every $5$ minutes. What is the water temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, after $15$ minutes?
$\textbf{(A) } 77 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 86 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 92 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 98 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 104$
Initially, the difference between the water temperature and the room temperature is $212-68=144$ degrees Fahrenheit.
After $5$ minutes, the difference between the temperatures is $144\div2=72$ degrees Fahrenheit.
After $10$ minutes, the difference between the temperatures is $72\div2=36$ degrees Fahrenheit.
After $15$ minutes, the difference between the temperatures is $36\div2=18$ degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the water temperature is $68+18=\boxed{\textbf{(B) } 86}$ degrees Fahrenheit.
Remark
Alternatively, we can condense the solution above into the following equation: \[68+(212-68)\cdot\left(\frac12\right)^{\tfrac{15}{5}}=86.\]
~MRENTHUSIASM ~MathFun1000