number of people waiting in a line to buy tickets x minutes after a ticket booth opened is given by the expression 70−5x . What does the value 70 represent?

Question

                                                                                                                                                                            I need Help with my algebra 

Answer 1

The 70 represents the initial amount patrons waiting in the line at time t = 0

 

then the number begins to dwindle at the rate of 5 patrons per minute

 

 

This means that after let's say two (2) minutes the number in line would be; 

 

the initial amount minus the product of the rate and the time = 70 - 5*2 = 60 patrons

 

Hope this helps.