Find a linear equation for the number of families living below the poverty level

Question

(question continued) (in thousands) in terms of , the number of ye B ars since 2000, using the data for 2000 and 2008.

 

 

 

 

Year      families below poverty level in thousands
2000     6400
2001     6813
2002     7229
2003     7607
2004     7623
2005     7657
2006     7668
2007     7835
2008     8147

Answer 1

Call 2000 year zero

Then 2008 is year 8

 

The two data points are

(0, 6400), (8, 8147)

Slope = (8147-6400)/(8-0)

= 1747/8 = 218.375

 

Your equation in slope intercept

form of y=mx+b looks like:

 

y = 218.375x + b

 

where y = population in thousands, x = years

since 2000.  We already have b, the

y-intercept, from (0, 6400)

 

Your equation is:

 

y = 218.375x + 6400