Question

The total farm population (the number of people living on farms ) in the United States was 6,051,000 in 1980. Since then, it has been decreasing at the rate of 118,250 people per year.

How many people were living on farms in 1990?

Answer 1

Make an equation.

As the popl is decreasing every year, the slope of your equation will be 118,250

Answer 2

Haha, yeah i know many people copy my last name.. They all are obsessed with it. :3

Answer 3

okay got that so:
118,250x+y

Answer 4

rite?

Answer 5

wait a minute

Answer 6

from 1980 to 1990 its ten years so the slope times 10 or is it slope times -10

Answer 7

y = mx + b

y = 118250x + b

Answer 8

WAIT! it should be -ve.

Answer 9

so x is 10 rite> or is it -10

Answer 10

-ve?

Answer 11

Why do you think it's -10?

Answer 12

-ve = negative.

Answer 13

um rong its postive ten well i thought its -10 because it says decreasing

Answer 14

so what should it be? how can I get the answer

Answer 15

y = mx + b

Where slope wil be: 118,250
And since the popl is decreasing it will be -118,250.

Answer 16

Hence:
y = -118,250x + b

now find the value of b.

Insert the given point:
(x,y) = (1980, 6051000)

y = -118,250x + b
6051000 = -118,250(1980) + b

Solve for b.

Answer 17

PS b should be a huge number.

Answer 18

Okay let me tell you.
b = 240186000

Answer 19

wait I got a diffrentn answer

Answer 20

oh my bad

Answer 21

so the y=mx+b
would be
y=-118,250x + 240186000

Answer 22

but we didnt answer the question

Answer 23

wait don't we substitue 10 for x

Answer 24

hello?

Answer 25

Yes right.

Answer 26

about substtuting 10 for x

Answer 27

:)

Answer 28

Haha. Okay sorry. Miss T?

Answer 29

its okay its the first and last time

Answer 30

dont call me that either

Answer 31

Okay unknown person.

Answer 32

Lol. No Mrs now.

Answer 33

so back to the problem i subtutte rite?

Answer 34

Yes 10/

Answer 35

I know thanks