To find the equation of the trend line in slope-intercept form (y = mx + b), we need to determine the slope (m) and the y-intercept (b) from the points provided.
From the points provided, we can calculate the slope (m) using the formula:
\[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]
Let's first take two points from the line: (15, 40) and (30, 50).
Using those points:
\[ m = \frac{50 - 40}{30 - 15} = \frac{10}{15} = \frac{2}{3} \]
Now, we have the slope (m) as \(\frac{2}{3}\).
Next, we use one of the points to find the y-intercept (b). We can use the point (15, 40):
\[ y = mx + b \] \[ 40 = \frac{2}{3}(15) + b \] \[ 40 = 10 + b \] \[ b = 40 - 10 = 30 \]
Now we can write the equation of the trend line in slope-intercept form:
\[ y = \frac{2}{3}x + 30 \]
Among the answer choices provided, the correct equation is:
y = \frac{2}{3}x + 30.