My Math Forum Help With Linear Equation Word Problem

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 September 20th, 2013, 06:27 AM #1 Newbie   Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Help With Linear Equation Word Problem I am having a really hard time understanding how this is done since the chapter we are on has to do with the slope-intercept form y=mx+b. This is the problem as follows: A copier was purchased by a company for $7,500. After 5 years it is estimated that the value of the copier will be$4,500 . If the value in dollars V and the time the copier has been in use t are related by a linear equation, find the equation that relates V and t. I kind of understand how I could graph this into a line and then find a y-intercept point and then create an equation but at the same time I don't. Can anyone break it down for me or help me by pushing me in the right direction. I have a ton more of the these word problems and I'm sure if I can understand this one I can get all the rest done on my own. Thanks!
 September 20th, 2013, 06:38 AM #2 Senior Member   Joined: Jun 2013 From: London, England Posts: 1,316 Thanks: 116 Re: Help With Linear Equation Word Problem You are given that V and t have a linear relationship. The first step, therefore, is to let: V(t) = mt + b (1) This is the general form of a linear equation. Next, you are given V for two values of t: When t = 0, V(0) = $7500 When t = 5, V(5) =$4500 So, if we put t = 0 into the equation (1) above, we get: V(0) = b Therefore b = 7500 Next we put t = 5 and v(5) = 4500 into the equation at (1) to get: 4500 = 5m + 7500 Therefore 5m = -3000, so m = -600 So, the equation is: V(t) = -600t + 7500
 September 20th, 2013, 12:55 PM #3 Newbie   Joined: Sep 2013 Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Re: Help With Linear Equation Word Problem Ahhhhh. Makes much more sense now that you put it in those words. This online courses e-text is extremely vague and really only has examples but nothing of the word problems I've ran into in the HW assignments. I appreciate the help the rest should be easy peasy now.

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