Verified Answer :
- For each exercise, calculate the slope \(m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\).
- Use the calculated slope and one of the given points to solve for the y-intercept \(b\) in \(y = mx + b\).
- The final equations are:
- Exercise 3: \(\boxed{y = -\frac{3}{7}x + \frac{12}{7}}\)
- Exercise 5: \(\boxed{y = 5x - 15}\)
- Exercise 6: \(\boxed{y = \frac{4}{9}x - \frac{5}{9}}\)
Explanation
- Methodology for Finding Linear Function Models
To determine the equation of a line passing through two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\), we use the slope-intercept form \(y = mx + b\).
The slope \(m\) is calculated by the formula \(m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}\).
Once the slope is found, we substitute the coordinates of one of the points into the equation \(y = mx + b\) to solve for the y-intercept \(b\).
We will apply this process to three separate exercises.
- Solving Exercise 3: Points (4, 0) and (-3, 3)
Given the points \((4, 0)\) and \((-3, 3)\):
- Calculate the slope: \(m = \frac{3 - 0}{-3 - 4} = \frac{3}{-7} = -\frac{3}{7}\).
- Substitute \(m = -\frac{3}{7}\) and the point \((4, 0)\) into the equation \(y = mx + b\):
\(0 = (-\frac{3}{7})(4) + b\)
\(0 = -\frac{12}{7} + b\)
\(b = \frac{12}{7}\).
Thus, the equation for Exercise 3 is \(y = -\frac{3}{7}x + \frac{12}{7}\).
- Solving Exercise 5: Points (2, -5) and (3, 0)
Given the points \((2, -5)\) and \((3, 0)\):
- Calculate the slope: \(m = \frac{0 - (-5)}{3 - 2} = \frac{5}{1} = 5\).
- Substitute \(m = 5\) and the point \((3, 0)\) into the equation \(y = mx + b\):
\(0 = (5)(3) + b\)
\(0 = 15 + b\)
\(b = -15\).
Thus, the equation for Exercise 5 is \(y = 5x - 15\).
- Solving Exercise 6: Points (8, 3) and (-1, -1)
Given the points \((8, 3)\) and \((-1, -1)\):
- Calculate the slope: \(m = \frac{-1 - 3}{-1 - 8} = \frac{-4}{-9} = \frac{4}{9}\).
- Substitute \(m = \frac{4}{9}\) and the point \((8, 3)\) into the equation \(y = mx + b\):
\(3 = (\frac{4}{9})(8) + b\)
\(3 = \frac{32}{9} + b\)
\(b = 3 - \frac{32}{9} = \frac{27}{9} - \frac{32}{9} = -\frac{5}{9}\).
Thus, the equation for Exercise 6 is \(y = \frac{4}{9}x - \frac{5}{9}\).
- Summary of Solutions
The linear equations for the given pairs of points are as follows:
Exercise 3: \(y = -\frac{3}{7}x + \frac{12}{7}\)
Exercise 5: \(y = 5x - 15\)
Exercise 6: \(y = \frac{4}{9}x - \frac{5}{9}\)
Examples
Linear models are essential in real-world scenarios where data shows a constant rate of change. For example, if a car is traveling at a steady speed, the distance it covers over time can be represented by a linear function \(d = vt + d_0\). Similarly, if a company has fixed overhead costs and variable costs per unit produced, its total expenditure can be modeled linearly as \(C = mx + b\), where \(x\) is the number of units produced. Understanding how to construct these models from just two data points allows for precise predictions of future costs or outcomes.