Question

The newspaper in Haventown had a circulation of 80,000 papers in the year 2000. In 2010, the circulation was 50,000. With x=0 representing the year 2000, the graph below models this scenario.

A coordinate plane showing Newspaper Circulation, Years Since 2000 on the x-axis and Circulation on the y-axis. A line starting at (0, 80,000), passing through a point at (10, 50,000) and ending at (18, 25,000).

What number will complete the point-slope equation that models this scenario?

y−50,000=[_______](x−10)

−3,000
−2,000
2,000
3,000

Answer 1

Use the slope between (0, 80,000) and (10, 50,000):

m = (50,000 − 80,000)/(10 − 0) = −30,000/10 = −3,000.

So the equation is y − 50,000 = −3,000(x − 10). Answer: −3,000.