Question

The table shows the linear relationship between the average height in feet of trees on a tree farm and the number of years since the trees were planted.

Number of years since the trees were planted | Average height (ft)
1 | 10
3 | 24
6 | 45
11 | 80
15 | 108

Based on the table, write a function to represent this situation.

Answer 1

Let x = number of years since planting and h(x) = average height in feet. The data have constant slope 7 (e.g. (24−10)/(3−1)=7), so

h(x) = 7x + 3.

(Checking: h(1)=10, h(3)=24, h(15)=108.)