A researcher for an environmental agency is investigating fuel economy. She has developed a linear model for highway gas mileage, g, in terms of the vehicle weight, w, in thousands of pounds using a representative sample of car types. The equation is g=−6.035w+46.33. Interpret the slope of this equation.(1 point)

Answer 1

The slope of the equation, -6.035, represents the decrease in highway gas mileage, in miles per gallon (mpg), for every increase of 1000 pounds in vehicle weight. In other words, it suggests that heavier vehicles have lower fuel economy on the highway.