Let's analyze the given linear demand function:
\[ D = 23.5t + 171.3 \]
where \( D \) is the demand in metric tons, and \( t \) is the number of years after 2015.
Part (a): Finding the slope of the graph
The slope of a linear function in the form \( y = mx + b \) is represented by \( m \). In this case, the coefficient of \( t \) (which represents the number of years after 2015) is:
\[ \text{slope} = 23.5 \]
Part (b): Finding the D-intercept
The D-intercept occurs when \( t = 0 \) (which corresponds to the year 2015). We can find the D-intercept by substituting \( t = 0 \) into the demand function:
\[ D = 23.5(0) + 171.3 \] \[ D = 171.3 \]
Summary of Answers
- Slope: 23.5
- D-intercept: 171.3
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