Problema Solution

A car is initially 50 miles south of the border between two states and in travelling south. Distances D between the car and border are recorded in the table for various elapsed times t. Find a linear function given by D(t)=at+b that models these data.

t hours 0, 2, 3, 5

D miles 50,130,170,250

write the linear function modeled by the data

Answer provided by our tutors

rate of change: (130-50)/(2-0) = 80/2 = 40

coarse check for linearity: (250-170)/(5-3) = 80/2 = 40


D(t) = 40t + 50