Question

Adam calculates his annual salary (base pay and commission), y, using the model y = 0.28x+38,000, where x represents his total sales for the year.(5 points)
a) What is the y-intercept?
(0, 38,000)

b) What does the y-intercept mean in context?
Adam's base salary

c) What is the slope?
0.28

d) What does the slope mean in context?
The increase in salary per total sales

e) If Adam made $45,000 total annual salary, how much was his total sales?
$25,000

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Answer 1

All parts are correct. Brief confirmation and interpretations:

a) y-intercept: (0, 38,000)

b) Meaning: If Adam has $0 in sales, his annual salary is $38,000 — his base salary (guaranteed pay).

c) Slope: 0.28

d) Meaning: Adam earns an additional $0.28 for each $1 of sales (a 28% commission rate on sales).

e) Solve 45,000 = 0.28x + 38,000:
0.28x = 7,000 ⇒ x = 7,000 / 0.28 = 25,000.
So his total sales were $25,000.