Question

For the period 1995-2002, the total personal expenditures (in billions of dollars) in the United States for food, f(x), and for housing, h(x), can be described by the equations shown below, where x is the number of years past 1995. f(x) = 40.74x + 742.65 and h(x) = 47.93x + 725 Find the year in which these expenditures were equal and the amount spent on each. (Round the year up. Give the amount correct to the nearest whole billion.)

Answer 1

well, set them equal:

40.74x + 742.65 = 47.93x + 725

Now just find x and add 1995.

Answer 2

842.6586

Answer 3

1998