In this scenario, we can identify the initial value and the rate of change as follows:
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Initial Value (b): The initial amount of water in the tank is 1,000 gallons since the tank is half full. Therefore, \( b = 1000 \).
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Rate of Change (m): Water is being pumped into the tank at a rate of 15 gallons per minute. This represents the rate of change of the amount of water in the tank. Therefore, \( m = 15 \).
In summary:
- The initial value is \( b = 1000 \) gallons.
- The rate of change is \( m = 15 \) gallons per minute.