College Algebra

4.2Modeling with Linear Functions

College Algebra4.2 Modeling with Linear Functions
Figure 1 (credit: EEK Photography/Flickr)

Emily is a college student who plans to spend a summer in Seattle. She has saved $3,500 for her trip and anticipates spending$400 each week on rent, food, and activities. How can we write a linear model to represent her situation? What would be the x-intercept, and what can she learn from it? To answer these and related questions, we can create a model using a linear function. Models such as this one can be extremely useful for analyzing relationships and making predictions based on those relationships. In this section, we will explore examples of linear function models.

Building Linear Models from Verbal Descriptions

When building linear models to solve problems involving quantities with a constant rate of change, we typically follow the same problem strategies that we would use for any type of function. Let’s briefly review them:

1. Identify changing quantities, and then define descriptive variables to represent those quantities. When appropriate, sketch a picture or define a coordinate system.
2. Carefully read the problem to identify important information. Look for information that provides values for the variables or values for parts of the functional model, such as slope and initial value.
3. Carefully read the problem to determine what we are trying to find, identify, solve, or interpret.
4. Identify a solution pathway from the provided information to what we are trying to find. Often this will involve checking and tracking units, building a table, or even finding a formula for the function being used to model the problem.
5. When needed, write a formula for the function.
6. Solve or evaluate the function using the formula.
7. Reflect on whether your answer is reasonable for the given situation and whether it makes sense mathematically.
8. Clearly convey your result using appropriate units, and answer in full sentences when necessary.

Now let’s take a look at the student in Seattle. In her situation, there are two changing quantities: time and money. The amount of money she has remaining while on vacation depends on how long she stays. We can use this information to define our variables, including units.

So, the amount of money remaining depends on the number of weeks: $M( t ) M( t )$ .

Notice that the unit of dollars per week matches the unit of our output variable divided by our input variable. Also, because the slope is negative, the linear function is decreasing. This should make sense because she is spending money each week.

The rate of change is constant, so we can start with the linear model $M( t )=mt+b. M( t )=mt+b.$ Then we can substitute the intercept and slope provided.

To find the t-intercept (horizontal axis intercept), we set the output to zero, and solve for the input.

$0 = −400t+3500 t = 3500 400 = 8.75 0 = −400t+3500 t = 3500 400 = 8.75$

The t-intercept (horizontal axis intercept) is 8.75 weeks. Because this represents the input value when the output will be zero, we could say that Emily will have no money left after 8.75 weeks.

When modeling any real-life scenario with functions, there is typically a limited domain over which that model will be valid—almost no trend continues indefinitely. Here the domain refers to the number of weeks. In this case, it doesn’t make sense to talk about input values less than zero. A negative input value could refer to a number of weeks before she saved $3,500, but the scenario discussed poses the question once she saved$3,500 because this is when her trip and subsequent spending starts. It is also likely that this model is not valid after the t-intercept (horizontal axis intercept), unless Emily uses a credit card and goes into debt. The domain represents the set of input values, so the reasonable domain for this function is $0≤t≤8.75. 0≤t≤8.75.$

In this example, we were given a written description of the situation. We followed the steps of modeling a problem to analyze the information. However, the information provided may not always be the same. Sometimes we might be provided with an intercept. Other times we might be provided with an output value. We must be careful to analyze the information we are given, and use it appropriately to build a linear model.

Using a Given Intercept to Build a Model

Some real-world problems provide the vertical axis intercept, which is the constant or initial value. Once the vertical axis intercept is known, the t-intercept (horizontal axis intercept) can be calculated. Suppose, for example, that Hannah plans to pay off a no-interest loan from her parents. Her loan balance is $1,000. She plans to pay$250 per month until her balance is $0. The y-intercept is the initial amount of her debt, or$1,000. The rate of change, or slope, is -$250 per month. We can then use the slope-intercept form and the given information to develop a linear model. $f(x) = mx+b = −250x+1000 f(x) = mx+b = −250x+1000$ Now we can set the function equal to 0, and solve for $x x$ to find the x-intercept. $0 = −250x+1000 1000 = 250x 4 = x x = 4 0 = −250x+1000 1000 = 250x 4 = x x = 4$ The x-intercept is the number of months it takes her to reach a balance of$0. The x-intercept is 4 months, so it will take Hannah four months to pay off her loan.

Using a Given Input and Output to Build a Model

Many real-world applications are not as direct as the ones we just considered. Instead they require us to identify some aspect of a linear function. We might sometimes instead be asked to evaluate the linear model at a given input or set the equation of the linear model equal to a specified output.

How To

Given a word problem that includes two pairs of input and output values, use the linear function to solve a problem.

1. Identify the input and output values.
2. Convert the data to two coordinate pairs.
3. Find the slope.
4. Write the linear model.
5. Use the model to make a prediction by evaluating the function at a given x-value.
6. Use the model to identify an x-value that results in a given y-value.

Example 1

Using a Linear Model to Investigate a Town’s Population

A town’s population has been growing linearly. In 2004, the population was 6,200. By 2009, the population had grown to 8,100. Assume this trend continues.

1. Predict the population in 2013.
2. Identify the year in which the population will reach 15,000.

Try It #1

A company sells doughnuts. They incur a fixed cost of $25,000 for rent, insurance, and other expenses. It costs$0.25 to produce each doughnut.

1. Write a linear model to represent the cost $CC$ of the company as a function of $x, x,$ the number of doughnuts produced.
2. Find and interpret the y-intercept.

Try It #2

A city’s population has been growing linearly. In 2008, the population was 28,200. By 2012, the population was 36,800. Assume this trend continues.

1. Predict the population in 2014.
2. Identify the year in which the population will reach 54,000.

Using a Diagram to Build a Model

It is useful for many real-world applications to draw a picture to gain a sense of how the variables representing the input and output may be used to answer a question. To draw the picture, first consider what the problem is asking for. Then, determine the input and the output. The diagram should relate the variables. Often, geometrical shapes or figures are drawn. Distances are often traced out. If a right triangle is sketched, the Pythagorean Theorem relates the sides. If a rectangle is sketched, labeling width and height is helpful.

Example 2

Using a Diagram to Model Distance Walked

Anna and Emanuel start at the same intersection. Anna walks east at 4 miles per hour while Emanuel walks south at 3 miles per hour. They are communicating with a two-way radio that has a range of 2 miles. How long after they start walking will they fall out of radio contact?

Q&A

Should I draw diagrams when given information based on a geometric shape?

Yes. Sketch the figure and label the quantities and unknowns on the sketch.

Example 3

Using a Diagram to Model Distance Between Cities

There is a straight road leading from the town of Westborough to Agritown 30 miles east and 10 miles north. Partway down this road, it junctions with a second road, perpendicular to the first, leading to the town of Eastborough. If the town of Eastborough is located 20 miles directly east of the town of Westborough, how far is the road junction from Westborough?

Analysis

One nice use of linear models is to take advantage of the fact that the graphs of these functions are lines. This means real-world applications discussing maps need linear functions to model the distances between reference points.

Try It #3

There is a straight road leading from the town of Timpson to Ashburn 60 miles east and 12 miles north. Partway down the road, it junctions with a second road, perpendicular to the first, leading to the town of Garrison. If the town of Garrison is located 22 miles directly east of the town of Timpson, how far is the road junction from Timpson?

Modeling a Set of Data with Linear Functions

Real-world situations including two or more linear functions may be modeled with a system of linear equations. Remember, when solving a system of linear equations, we are looking for points the two lines have in common. Typically, there are three types of answers possible, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5

How To

Given a situation that represents a system of linear equations, write the system of equations and identify the solution.

1. Identify the input and output of each linear model.
2. Identify the slope and y-intercept of each linear model.
3. Find the solution by setting the two linear functions equal to another and solving for $x, x,$ or find the point of intersection on a graph.

Example 4

Building a System of Linear Models to Choose a Truck Rental Company

Jamal is choosing between two truck-rental companies. The first, Keep on Trucking, Inc., charges an up-front fee of $20, then 59 cents a mile. The second, Move It Your Way, charges an up-front fee of$16, then 63 cents a mile9. When will Keep on Trucking, Inc. be the better choice for Jamal?

Media

Access this online resource for additional instruction and practice with linear function models.

4.2 Section Exercises

Verbal

1.

Explain how to find the input variable in a word problem that uses a linear function.

2.

Explain how to find the output variable in a word problem that uses a linear function.

3.

Explain how to interpret the initial value in a word problem that uses a linear function.

4.

Explain how to determine the slope in a word problem that uses a linear function.

Algebraic

5.

Find the area of a parallelogram bounded by the y-axis, the line $x=3, x=3,$ the line $f(x)=1+2x, f(x)=1+2x,$ and the line parallel to $f(x) f(x)$ passing through $( 2,7 ). ( 2,7 ).$

6.

Find the area of a triangle bounded by the x-axis, the line $f(x)=12– 1 3 x, f(x)=12– 1 3 x,$ and the line perpendicular to $f(x) f(x)$ that passes through the origin.

7.

Find the area of a triangle bounded by the y-axis, the line $f(x)=9– 6 7 x, f(x)=9– 6 7 x,$ and the line perpendicular to $f(x) f(x)$ that passes through the origin.

8.

Find the area of a parallelogram bounded by the x-axis, the line $g(x)=2, g(x)=2,$ the line $f(x)=3x, f(x)=3x,$ and the line parallel to $f(x) f(x)$ passing through $(6,1). (6,1).$

For the following exercises, consider this scenario: A town’s population has been decreasing at a constant rate. In 2010 the population was 5,900. By 2012 the population had dropped 4,700. Assume this trend continues.

9.

Predict the population in 2016.

10.

Identify the year in which the population will reach 0.

For the following exercises, consider this scenario: A town’s population has been increased at a constant rate. In 2010 the population was 46,020. By 2012 the population had increased to 52,070. Assume this trend continues.

11.

Predict the population in 2016.

12.

Identify the year in which the population will reach 75,000.

For the following exercises, consider this scenario: A town has an initial population of 75,000. It grows at a constant rate of 2,500 per year for 5 years.

13.

Find the linear function that models the town’s population $P P$ as a function of the year, $t, t,$ where $t t$ is the number of years since the model began.

14.

Find a reasonable domain and range for the function $P. P.$

15.

If the function $P P$ is graphed, find and interpret the x- and y-intercepts.

16.

If the function $P P$ is graphed, find and interpret the slope of the function.

17.

When will the population reach 100,000?

18.

What is the population in the year 12 years from the onset of the model?

For the following exercises, consider this scenario: The weight of a newborn is 7.5 pounds. The baby gained one-half pound a month for its first year.

19.

Find the linear function that models the baby’s weight $W W$ as a function of the age of the baby, in months, $t. t.$

20.

Find a reasonable domain and range for the function $W. W.$

21.

If the function $W W$ is graphed, find and interpret the x- and y-intercepts.

22.

If the function W is graphed, find and interpret the slope of the function.

23.

When did the baby weight 10.4 pounds?

24.

What is the output when the input is 6.2?

For the following exercises, consider this scenario: The number of people afflicted with the common cold in the winter months steadily decreased by 205 each year from 2005 until 2010. In 2005, 12,025 people were inflicted.

25.

Find the linear function that models the number of people inflicted with the common cold $C C$ as a function of the year, $t. t.$

26.

Find a reasonable domain and range for the function $C. C.$

27.

If the function $C C$ is graphed, find and interpret the x- and y-intercepts.

28.

If the function $C C$ is graphed, find and interpret the slope of the function.

29.

When will the output reach 0?

30.

In what year will the number of people be 9,700?

Graphical

For the following exercises, use the graph in Figure 7, which shows the profit, $y, y,$ in thousands of dollars, of a company in a given year, $t, t,$ where $t t$ represents the number of years since 1980.

Figure 7
31.

Find the linear function $y, y,$ where $y y$ depends on $t, t,$ the number of years since 1980.

32.

Find and interpret the y-intercept.

33.

Find and interpret the x-intercept.

34.

Find and interpret the slope.

For the following exercises, use the graph in Figure 8, which shows the profit, $y, y,$ in thousands of dollars, of a company in a given year, $t, t,$ where $t t$ represents the number of years since 1980.

Figure 8
35.

Find the linear function $y, y,$ where $y y$ depends on $t, t,$ the number of years since 1980.

36.

Find and interpret the y-intercept.

37.

Find and interpret the x-intercept.

38.

Find and interpret the slope.

Numeric

For the following exercises, use the median home values in Mississippi and Hawaii (adjusted for inflation) shown in Table 2. Assume that the house values are changing linearly.

Year Mississippi Hawaii
1950 $25,200$74,400
2000 $71,400$272,700
Table 2
39.

In which state have home values increased at a higher rate?

40.

If these trends were to continue, what would be the median home value in Mississippi in 2010?

41.

If we assume the linear trend existed before 1950 and continues after 2000, the two states’ median house values will be (or were) equal in what year? (The answer might be absurd.)

For the following exercises, use the median home values in Indiana and Alabama (adjusted for inflation) shown in Table 3. Assume that the house values are changing linearly.

Year Indiana Alabama
1950 $37,700$27,100
2000 $94,300$85,100
Table 3
42.

In which state have home values increased at a higher rate?

43.

If these trends were to continue, what would be the median home value in Indiana in 2010?

44.

If we assume the linear trend existed before 1950 and continues after 2000, the two states’ median house values will be (or were) equal in what year? (The answer might be absurd.)

Real-World Applications

45.

In 2004, a school population was 1001. By 2008 the population had grown to 1697. Assume the population is changing linearly.

1. How much did the population grow between the year 2004 and 2008?
2. How long did it take the population to grow from 1001 students to 1697 students?
3. What is the average population growth per year?
4. What was the population in the year 2000?
5. Find an equation for the population, $P, P,$ of the school t years after 2000.
6. Using your equation, predict the population of the school in 2011.
46.

In 2003, a town’s population was 1431. By 2007 the population had grown to 2134. Assume the population is changing linearly.

1. How much did the population grow between the year 2003 and 2007?
2. How long did it take the population to grow from 1431 people to 2134 people?
3. What is the average population growth per year?
4. What was the population in the year 2000?
5. Find an equation for the population, $P, P,$ of the town $t t$ years after 2000.
6. Using your equation, predict the population of the town in 2014.
47.

A phone company has a monthly cellular plan where a customer pays a flat monthly fee and then a certain amount of money per minute used on the phone. If a customer uses 410 minutes, the monthly cost will be $71.50. If the customer uses 720 minutes, the monthly cost will be$118.

1. Find a linear equation for the monthly cost of the cell plan as a function of x, the number of monthly minutes used.
2. Interpret the slope and y-intercept of the equation.
3. Use your equation to find the total monthly cost if 687 minutes are used.
48.

A phone company has a monthly cellular data plan where a customer pays a flat monthly fee of $10 and then a certain amount of money per megabyte (MB) of data used on the phone. If a customer uses 20 MB, the monthly cost will be$11.20. If the customer uses 130 MB, the monthly cost will be $17.80. 1. Find a linear equation for the monthly cost of the data plan as a function of $x, x,$ the number of MB used. 2. Interpret the slope and y-intercept of the equation. 3. Use your equation to find the total monthly cost if 250 MB are used. 49. In 1991, the moose population in a park was measured to be 4,360. By 1999, the population was measured again to be 5,880. Assume the population continues to change linearly. 1. Find a formula for the moose population, P since 1990. 2. What does your model predict the moose population to be in 2003? 50. In 2003, the owl population in a park was measured to be 340. By 2007, the population was measured again to be 285. The population changes linearly. Let the input be years since 2003. 1. Find a formula for the owl population, $P. P.$ Let the input be years since 2003. 2. What does your model predict the owl population to be in 2012? 51. The Federal Helium Reserve held about 16 billion cubic feet of helium in 2010 and is being depleted by about 2.1 billion cubic feet each year. 1. Give a linear equation for the remaining federal helium reserves, $R, R,$ in terms of $t, t,$ the number of years since 2010. 2. In 2015, what will the helium reserves be? 3. If the rate of depletion doesn’t change, in what year will the Federal Helium Reserve be depleted? 52. Suppose the world’s oil reserves in 2014 are 1,820 billion barrels. If, on average, the total reserves are decreasing by 25 billion barrels of oil each year: 1. Give a linear equation for the remaining oil reserves, $R, R,$ in terms of $t, t,$ the number of years since now. 2. Seven years from now, what will the oil reserves be? 3. If the rate at which the reserves are decreasing is constant, when will the world’s oil reserves be depleted? 53. You are choosing between two different prepaid cell phone plans. The first plan charges a rate of 26 cents per minute. The second plan charges a monthly fee of$19.95 plus 11 cents per minute. How many minutes would you have to use in a month in order for the second plan to be preferable?

54.

You are choosing between two different window washing companies. The first charges $5 per window. The second charges a base fee of$40 plus $3 per window. How many windows would you need to have for the second company to be preferable? 55. When hired at a new job selling jewelry, you are given two pay options: Option A: Base salary of$17,000 a year with a commission of 12% of your sales

Option B: Base salary of $20,000 a year with a commission of 5% of your sales How much jewelry would you need to sell for option A to produce a larger income? 56. When hired at a new job selling electronics, you are given two pay options: Option A: Base salary of$14,000 a year with a commission of 10% of your sales

Option B: Base salary of $19,000 a year with a commission of 4% of your sales How much electronics would you need to sell for option A to produce a larger income? 57. When hired at a new job selling electronics, you are given two pay options: Option A: Base salary of$20,000 a year with a commission of 12% of your sales

Option B: Base salary of $26,000 a year with a commission of 3% of your sales How much electronics would you need to sell for option A to produce a larger income? 58. When hired at a new job selling electronics, you are given two pay options: Option A: Base salary of$10,000 a year with a commission of 9% of your sales

Option B: Base salary of \$20,000 a year with a commission of 4% of your sales

How much electronics would you need to sell for option A to produce a larger income?

Footnotes

• 9Rates retrieved Aug 2, 2010 from http://www.budgettruck.com and http://www.uhaul.com/
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