Question

The rate of change is 2. It represents a decrease in the amount of raspberries in the bucket for each batch Iris makes.
Now solve for b to find the initial value.
?
Batches, z
Raspberries Left in Bucket (cups), y
1
16
4
10
7
4
X
y = mx + b
y=-2x+b
16-2(1)+b
=b

Answer 1

Use one data point to substitute into y = -2x + b. With x = 1 and y = 16:

16 = -2(1) + b
16 = -2 + b
b = 16 + 2
b = 18

So the initial amount (when x = 0) is 18 cups, and the equation is y = -2x + 18.