Look at this table:

x y

8 55.56

7 49.56

6 43.56

5 37.56

4 31.56
Write a linear function (y=mx+b) or an exponential function (y=a(b)x) that models the data.
y=

1 answer

Based on the given table, it seems that there is a constant difference between the y-values and the x-values remain unchanged. This pattern suggests that a linear function best models the data.

To find the equation of the linear function, we can calculate the slope (m) and the y-intercept (b).

Using the first two data points (-8, 55.56) and (-7, 49.56), we can calculate the slope using the formula:

m = (change in y) / (change in x)
= (49.56 - 55.56) / (-7 - (-8))
= (-6) / 1
= -6

Next, we can substitute one of the data points into the slope-intercept form of a linear equation (y = mx + b) to solve for b.

49.56 = -6(-7) + b
49.56 = 42 + b
b = 49.56 - 42
b = 7.56

Therefore, the equation that models the data is:

y = -6x + 7.56