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Using tabular form to write an equation for a linear function

[link] relates the number of rats in a population to time, in weeks. Use the table to write a linear equation.

w , number of weeks 0 2 4 6
P(w) , number of rats 1000 1080 1160 1240

We can see from the table that the initial value for the number of rats is 1000, so b = 1000.

Rather than solving for m , we can tell from looking at the table that the population increases by 80 for every 2 weeks that pass. This means that the rate of change is 80 rats per 2 weeks, which can be simplified to 40 rats per week.

P ( w ) = 40 w + 1000

If we did not notice the rate of change from the table we could still solve for the slope using any two points from the table. For example, using ( 2 , 1080 ) and ( 6 , 1240 )

m = 1240 1080 6 2    = 160 4    = 40
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Is the initial value always provided in a table of values like [link] ?

No. Sometimes the initial value is provided in a table of values, but sometimes it is not. If you see an input of 0, then the initial value would be the corresponding output. If the initial value is not provided because there is no value of input on the table equal to 0, find the slope, substitute one coordinate pair and the slope into f ( x ) = m x + b , and solve for b .

A new plant food was introduced to a young tree to test its effect on the height of the tree. [link] shows the height of the tree, in feet, x months since the measurements began. Write a linear function, H ( x ) , where x is the number of months since the start of the experiment.

x 0 2 4 8 12
H ( x ) 12.5 13.5 14.5 16.5 18.5

H ( x ) = 0.5 x + 12.5

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Access this online resource for additional instruction and practice with linear functions.

Key equations

slope-intercept form of a line f ( x ) = m x + b
slope m = change in output (rise) change in input (run) = Δ y Δ x = y 2 y 1 x 2 x 1
point-slope form of a line y y 1 = m ( x x 1 )

Key concepts

  • The ordered pairs given by a linear function represent points on a line.
  • Linear functions can be represented in words, function notation, tabular form, and graphical form. See [link] .
  • The rate of change of a linear function is also known as the slope.
  • An equation in the slope-intercept form of a line includes the slope and the initial value of the function.
  • The initial value, or y -intercept, is the output value when the input of a linear function is zero. It is the y -value of the point at which the line crosses the y -axis.
  • An increasing linear function results in a graph that slants upward from left to right and has a positive slope.
  • A decreasing linear function results in a graph that slants downward from left to right and has a negative slope.
  • A constant linear function results in a graph that is a horizontal line.
  • Analyzing the slope within the context of a problem indicates whether a linear function is increasing, decreasing, or constant. See [link] .
  • The slope of a linear function can be calculated by dividing the difference between y -values by the difference in corresponding x -values of any two points on the line. See [link] and [link] .
  • The slope and initial value can be determined given a graph or any two points on the line.
  • One type of function notation is the slope-intercept form of an equation.
  • The point-slope form is useful for finding a linear equation when given the slope of a line and one point. See [link] .
  • The point-slope form is also convenient for finding a linear equation when given two points through which a line passes. See [link] .
  • The equation for a linear function can be written if the slope m and initial value b are known. See [link] , [link] , and [link] .
  • A linear function can be used to solve real-world problems. See [link] and [link] .
  • A linear function can be written from tabular form. See [link] .

Questions & Answers

A golfer on a fairway is 70 m away from the green, which sits below the level of the fairway by 20 m. If the golfer hits the ball at an angle of 40° with an initial speed of 20 m/s, how close to the green does she come?
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cm
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A mouse of mass 200 g falls 100 m down a vertical mine shaft and lands at the bottom with a speed of 8.0 m/s. During its fall, how much work is done on the mouse by air resistance
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Can you compute that for me. Ty
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what is inorganic
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Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with the study of matter,it composition,it structure and the changes it undergoes
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chemistry could also be understood like the sexual attraction/repulsion of the male and female elements. the reaction varies depending on the energy differences of each given gender. + masculine -female.
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A ball is thrown straight up.it passes a 2.0m high window 7.50 m off the ground on it path up and takes 1.30 s to go past the window.what was the ball initial velocity
Krampah Reply
2. A sled plus passenger with total mass 50 kg is pulled 20 m across the snow (0.20) at constant velocity by a force directed 25° above the horizontal. Calculate (a) the work of the applied force, (b) the work of friction, and (c) the total work.
Sahid Reply
you have been hired as an espert witness in a court case involving an automobile accident. the accident involved car A of mass 1500kg which crashed into stationary car B of mass 1100kg. the driver of car A applied his brakes 15 m before he skidded and crashed into car B. after the collision, car A s
Samuel Reply
can someone explain to me, an ignorant high school student, why the trend of the graph doesn't follow the fact that the higher frequency a sound wave is, the more power it is, hence, making me think the phons output would follow this general trend?
Joseph Reply
Nevermind i just realied that the graph is the phons output for a person with normal hearing and not just the phons output of the sound waves power, I should read the entire thing next time
Joseph
Follow up question, does anyone know where I can find a graph that accuretly depicts the actual relative "power" output of sound over its frequency instead of just humans hearing
Joseph
"Generation of electrical energy from sound energy | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore" ***ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7150687?reload=true
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Magreth
progressive wave
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A string is 3.00 m long with a mass of 5.00 g. The string is held taut with a tension of 500.00 N applied to the string. A pulse is sent down the string. How long does it take the pulse to travel the 3.00 m of the string?
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Source:  OpenStax, Precalculus. OpenStax CNX. Jan 19, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11667/1.6
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