It's always helpful to first start by identifying your independent and dependent variables when you're solving word problems.
In this case, the "x" values represent time in years and the "y" values represent the value of the car.
Doing this allows us to interpret the information given in the word problem into coordinate points:
"The price was $38,120" (I'm guessing at the very beginning) --> (0, 38120)
"(have $0 value) after 10 years." --> (10, 0)
This gives us the two points we need to write the linear equation.
To find a linear equation, first find the slope.
m = (38120 - 0)/(0 - 10) = -3812
b = 38120
The equation is: y = -3812x + 38120
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