how do you solve this word problem?

Question

The cost of tickets to a whale watching tour depends on the number of people in the group. For each additional person, the cost per ticket decreases by $1. For a group with only two people, the cost per ticket is $44. 

1. Complete the chart. 

          - number of ppl.          - cost per ticket

                        2

                        3

                        4

                        5

2. Use the data in the table to write an expression that models the cost per ticket in terms of x, the number of people in a group. 

Answer 1

number   cost

 

2             44

3             43

4             42

5             41

 

x = number of people

y = cost of ticket

 

As the number of people increase by 1 the cost decreases by 1. The slope is -1. Using slope intercept form

 

y = -x + b. To find find substitute one of the pairs

44 = -2 + b

46 = b

 

The equation is

 

y = -x + 46