Problema Solution

You buy a new car for $45,000 and the car depreciates in value at a linear rate of $5000 per year.Find the x and y intercepts and what do the coordinates of x and y mean?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

x = the number of years passed

y = the value of the car after x years

y = 45,000 - 5000x

y intercept happens when x = 0:

y = $45,000

The y intercept represents the value of the new car.

x intercept happens when y = 0 that is:

45,000 - 5,000x = 0

x = 45,000/5,000

x = 9 years

After 9 years the value of the car will be $0.