To determine the initial value and the rate of change based on the description provided, we can identify the following:
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Initial Value (b): This is the height of the tomato plant at the starting point of the measurement, which in this case is the height of the plant today. The height today is 10 inches. Therefore, the initial value \( b = 10 \) inches.
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Rate of Change (m): This represents how much the height of the plant increases each day, which is given as 1.7 inches per day. Thus, the rate of change \( m = 1.7 \) inches/day.
Putting it all together:
- The initial value is \( b = 10 \) inches.
- The rate of change is \( m = 1.7 \) inches/day.