The table of values below represents a linear function and shows the amount of money in a tip jar at a dry cleaners since the dry cleaners opened for the day. How much was in the tip jar when the dry cleaners opened?
Accepted Solution
A:
A linear equation has a standard form of:
y = mx + b
where in this case,
y = amount of money in tip jar, m = slope, x = number of
hours, b = y intercept
We select any two paired data to calculate for the slope:
m = (y2 – y1) / (x2 – x1)
m = (18.25 – 15.50) / (5 – 4)
m = 2.75
y = 2.75x + b
Choosing any one data pair to calculate for b the
y-intercept:
15.50 = 2.75 (4) + b
b = 4.5
Therefore there was $4.50 in the tip jar during the
opening.
Answer: $4.50