To write the linear equation in the form \(y = mx + b\), we have the slope \(m = 500\).
To find the linear equation, we also need the y-intercept \(b\). We know two points on the line: \((3, 1600)\) and \((7, 3600)\).
Using the slope-intercept form, we can substitute \(m\) and one of the points to find \(b\).
Let's use the point \((3, 1600)\):
\[ y = mx + b \]
Substituting in the values:
\[ 1600 = 500(3) + b \]
Calculating \(500(3)\):
\[ 1600 = 1500 + b \]
Now, solve for \(b\):
\[ b = 1600 - 1500 \]
\[ b = 100 \]
Now that we have both \(m\) and \(b\), we can write the complete equation:
\[ y = 500x + 100 \]
So, the equation representing the relationship between time \(x\) (in hours) and Thomas’s elevation \(y\) (in meters) is:
\[ y = 500x + 100 \]