word problem

Question

The minimum wage was $5.15 in 1990 and $7.25 in 2009 (Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor). Find the average rate of change in the minimum wage from 1990 to 2009. Express you answer using the units expressed in the problem. Show all work.

Answer 1

The average rate of change will be the slope of the straight line connecting the two points (1990,$5.15) and (2009,$7.25).  Given any two points on a line, (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂), the formula for the slope of the line, m, is:

 

m = (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁)

 

Can you compute the slope (average rate of change) for your problem?