Use the linear equation from part (a) to estimate Sven's weight from 50 days ago.

Question

Sven has been on a diet for a couple of months now. When he got on the scale this morning, he weighed in at 242.4 lbs, a marked improvement over the 252 lbs that he weighed 16 days ago.

(a) Suppose that Sven's weight w can be described as a linear function of time t in days: w=mt+b. Assume that t=0 corresponds to 16 days ago. Find m and b.
m = -0.6

b = 252


(b) Use the linear equation from part (a) to estimate Sven's weight from 50 days ago.
Weight =

 

I figured out the linear equation, but can't seem to understand how to get the estimate for Sven's weight 50 days ago

Answer 1

Your linear equation was

w(t) = -.6t + 252

 

50 days ago is 34 days prior

to the time zero...

 

t = -34

 

w(-34) = -.6(-34) + 252

w(-34) = 20.4 + 252

w(-34) = 272.4