Problema Solution

As an orange grows over a five-week period, there is a linear relationship between the volume of the orange and time. At the beginning of the period, the volume is about 34 cm. Four weeks later, the volume is about 50 cm. What is the volume at the end of the five-week period?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


y = the volume of the orange


x = the time in weeks


there is a linear relationship between the volume of the orange and time means:


y = mx + b, for m and b constants


at the beginning of the period (x = 0 weeks), the volume is about 34 cm^3:


34 = m*0 + b


b = 34


4 weeks later (x = 4 weeks), the volume is about 50 cm^3:


50 = m*4 + 34


m = (50 - 34)/4


m = 4


the equation that describes the volume y after x weeks is:


y = 4x + 34


after x = 5 weeks the volume is:


y = 4*5 + 34


y = 54 cm^2.