Write the equation for the following situation: In one U.S. town, the annual consumption, s, of sugar (in kg per person) can be estimated by adding 30 to half the years, t, since 1975.

Then graph the equation and use the graph to determine the sugar consumption in the year 1991.

Question

Write the equation for the following situation: In one U.S. town, the annual consumption, s, of sugar (in kg per person) can be estimated by adding 30 to half the years, t, since 1975.

Then graph the equation and use the graph to determine the sugar consumption in the year 1991.

anonymous · Answer

use 
$$s=\frac{1}{2}t+30$$ where t is assumed to start at 1975

anonymous · Answer

if you don't want t to start at 1975 you can use 
$$s=\frac{1}{2}(t-1975)+30$$ but that is kind of silly

anonymous · Answer

since 1991 is 16 years after 1975 you get 
$$s=\frac{1}{2}\times 16+30=8+30=38$$

anonymous · Answer

How would you graph this?

anonymous · Answer

here lets graph it
it is a line with slope 1/2 and y intercept 30

anonymous · Answer

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=y%3Dx%2F2%2B30%2C+x+from++0+to+20

anonymous · Answer

of course in this picture 0 represents 1975
also notice the units on the y - axis

anonymous · Answer

if you put your cursor over the graph you can see that when x is 16 you get 38 on the y - axis